See Also: stirrup(medicine)
stirrup(1)(dictionary)
stirrup(2)(dictionary)
stirrup(dictionary)
stirrup pants(dictionary)
Stirrup - Equestrian Sports(gambling)
Stirrup Crossbow - Archery(gambling)

stirrup(1) (iou)



stirrup noun.

Either of a pair of supports for a rider's foot, consisting of a usu. metal loop with a flat base and a leather strap attaching this loop to each side of a saddle. Also, the metal loop of such a support only; = stirrup-iron below. OE.
A thing shaped like a stirrup; spec. a U-shaped clamp or support. ME.
Any of various kinds of footrest or looped strap analogous to a stirrup; spec. (a) in a crossbow, a footrest used to steady and brace the bow while it is being bent and loaded; (b) a device used by a shoemaker to keep the last steady on the knee; (c) a kind of footless stocking with a strap passing underneath the foot; such a strap; a similar strap attached to stretch trousers; (d) either of a pair of supports used to hold the legs of a female patient raised and apart during a gynaecological examination, labour, etc. LME.
Nautical.
a. A metal band or plate used to secure a keel to a ship's hull. LME.
b. Any of several short ropes hanging from the yards of a square-rigged sailing ship, the lower end of the rope having a thimble through which passes a footrope or horse, used when working on the sails. L15.
Anatomy. = STAPES. E17.
In reinforced concrete construction, each of the vertical or diagonal members which bind together the upper and lower reinforcement of a beam etc. E20.
Phrases: hold the stirrup (a) help a person to mount a horse by holding the stirrup steady, esp. as a manifestation of homage or reverence; (b) fig. be subservient. lose one's stirrups let one's feet accidentally slip out of the stirrups.
Comb.: stirrup-bar (a) each of the bars on a saddle-tree to which a stirrup-strap is attached; (b) the bar of a stirrup, on which the foot rests; stirrup-bone = sense 5 above; stirrup-cup (a) a glass of wine etc. offered to a person (orig. on horseback) about to depart; (b) the drinking-vessel used for this; stirrup-iron the metal loop of a stirrup; stirrup-leather the strap attaching a stirrup to a saddle; stirrup pants stretch trousers with a strap passing underneath the foot; stirrup-pump a portable hand-operated water pump with a foot-plate resembling a stirrup, used to extinguish small fires with water drawn from a bucket; stirrup-strap = stirrup-leather above; stirrup-vase Archaeology a false-necked amphora with a square-cut handle on either side of the false spout.
stirrupless adjective (rare) LME.