Stirrup

Origin

From Middle English stirop, stirope, from Old English stiġrāp ("stirrup"), a compound of stiġe ("ascent, descent, a going up or down"; related to stīġan ("to climb")) and rāp ("rope"), equivalent to sty + rope.

Full definition of stirrup

Noun

1. A foot rest used by horse-riders.
2. (anatomy) A stapes.
3. Any piece shaped like the stirrup of a saddle, used as a support, clamp, etc.
• 1898, Winston Churchill, The Celebrity Chapter 2, Sunning himself on the board steps, I saw for the first time Mr. Farquhar Fenelon Cooke....A silver snaffle on a heavy leather watch guard which connected the pockets of his corduroy waistcoat, together with a huge gold stirrup in his Ascot tie, sufficiently proclaimed his tastes.
4. (nautical) A rope secured to a yard, with a thimble in its lower end for supporting a footrope.

Derived terms

• stirrup cup
• stirrup iron
• stirrup leather
• stirrup strap

Adjective

1. Referring to women's pants, a form of trousers commonly worn by women that includes a strap beneath the arch of the foot.

Anagrams

• irrupts