Spread-eagle

Origin

From splayed-eagle in heraldry, splayed + eagle

Full definition of spread-eagle

Adjective

1. Lying with arms and legs outstretched and separated.
2. (colloquial, humorous) Characterized by a pretentious, boastful, exaggerated style; bombastic.a spread-eagle oratora spread-eagle speech

Adverb

1. With arms and legs extended and spread.

Verb

1. (transitive) To put into a spread-eagle position, with arms and legs extended and spread.
2. (intransitive) To put one's body in a spread eagle.