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stirrup
stirrup foot support for the rider of a horse in mounting and while riding. It is a ring with a horizontal bar to receive the foot and is attached by a strap to the saddle. To avoid the danger of having a foot caught in a stirrup if the rider is thrown, large stirrups are often used; one of the uses of the stirrup cover or stirrup hood is to prevent the foot from entering too far and getting caught; the same purpose is served by the high heels of the cowboy's boots. There is some evidence that stirrups were used in Assyria c.850 BC and in China as early as the Han dynasty, 202 BC-AD 220. Stirrups are not known to have been used in Europe before the raids of the Huns under Attila in the mid-5th cent.; probably they had their origin in central Asia. |
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"stirrup." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "stirrup." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-stirrup.html "stirrup." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-stirrup.html |
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stirrup
stir·rup
/ ˈstərəp; ˈstə-rəp; ˈstir-/
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n.
1.
each of a pair of devices attached to each side of a horse's saddle, in the form of a loop with a flat base to support the rider's foot.
2.
(stir·rups)
a pair of metal supports in which a woman's heels may be placed during gynecological examinations and childbirth, to hold her legs in a position that will facilitate medical examination or intervention.
3.
(also stir·rup bone) another term for stapes.
4.
(stirrups) short for stirrup pants.
stirrup |
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"stirrup." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "stirrup." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-stirrup.html "stirrup." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-stirrup.html |
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stirrup
stirrup the device probably originated in the Asian steppes around the 2nd century bc, and was of great military value. The word comes (in Old English) from the Germanic base of obsolete sty ‘climb’ + rope, indicating that the original stirrup must have been a looped rope.
hold the stirrup (as in helping a person to mount) indicates an expression of homage or reverence. stirrup cup a cup of wine or other alcoholic drink offered to a person on horseback who is about to depart on a journey. |
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "stirrup." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "stirrup." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-stirrup.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "stirrup." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-stirrup.html |
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stirrup
stirrup OE. stiġrāp = OS. stigerēp, MDu. steegereep, OHG. stegareif, ON. stigreip; f. Gmc. *stiʒ- climb (see STY1) + *raipaz ROPE.
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T. F. HOAD. "stirrup." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "stirrup." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-stirrup.html T. F. HOAD. "stirrup." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-stirrup.html |
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stirrup
stirrup (sti-rŭp) n. (in anatomy) see stapes.
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"stirrup." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "stirrup." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-stirrup.html "stirrup." A Dictionary of Nursing. 2008. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O62-stirrup.html |
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stirrup
stirrup
•ketchup
•callop, escallop, escalope, gallop, galop, Salop, shallop
•develop, envelop
•collop, dollop, gollop, lollop, scallop, scollop, trollop, Trollope, wallop
•codswallop • Stanhope • larrup
•satrap • caltrop
•stirrup, syrup (US sirup)
•Europe
•archbishop, bishop
•tittup
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Cite this article
"stirrup." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "stirrup." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 10, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-stirrup.html "stirrup." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 10, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-stirrup.html |
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