stirrup

[ stur-uhp, stir-, stuhr- ]

noun

1. a loop, ring, or other contrivance of metal, wood, leather, etc., suspended from the saddle of a horse to support the rider's foot.
2. any of various similar supports or clamps used for special purposes.
3. Nautical. a short rope with an eye at the end hung from a yard to support a footrope, the footrope being rove through the eye.
4. Also called binder. (in reinforced-concrete constructions) a U -shaped or W -shaped bent rod for supporting longitudinal reinforcing rods.
5. Anatomy. stapes.
6. 1. a strap of fabric or elastic at the bottom of a pair of pants, worn around and under the foot.
   2. stirrups, (used with a plural verb) close-fitting knit pants with such straps.

stirrup

/ ˈstɪrəp /

noun

1. Also calledstirrup iron either of two metal loops on a riding saddle, with a flat footpiece through which a rider puts his foot for support. They are attached to the saddle by stirrup leathers
2. a U-shaped support or clamp made of metal, wood, leather, etc
3. nautical one of a set of ropes fastened to a yard at one end and having a thimble at the other through which a footrope is rove for support
4. the usual US name for étrier

Other Words From

• stirrup·less adjective
• stirrup·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of stirrup¹

before 1000; Middle English; Old English stigrāp ( stige ascent + rāp rope ); cognate with German Stegreif

Word History and Origins

Origin of stirrup¹

Old English stigrāp, from stīg path, step (related to Old High German stīgan to move up) + rāp rope ; related to Old Norse stigreip, Old High German stegareif

Example Sentences

At the farm, he leaves a foot between rows of Allium to allow for easy weeding with the six-inch blade of a stirrup hoe.

From Seattle Times

It bears traces of red paint with black trim and includes two leather straps that likely once supported stirrups.

From Science Daily

Her legs are held high by stirrups while a man in a white medical coat explains he is about to put some medicine inside her uterus.

From BBC

I remember the saddled and riderless horse with the big black boots stuck backwards in the stirrups.

From Los Angeles Times

When my feet were comfortably positioned in stirrups, she offered three words: “Rest is resistance,” taken from the title of the book by Tricia Hersey of the Nap Ministry.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• clamp
• splint