The Collaborative International Dictionary
Stirrup \Stir"rup\, n. [OE. stirop, AS. stigr[=a]p; st[=i]gan to mount, ascend + r[=a]p a rope; akin to G. stegreif a stirrup.
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A kind of ring, or bent piece of metal, wood, leather, or the like, horizontal in one part for receiving the foot of a rider, and attached by a strap to the saddle, -- used to assist a person in mounting a horse, and to enable him to sit steadily in riding, as well as to relieve him by supporting a part of the weight of the body.
Our host upon his stirpoes stood anon.
--Chaucer. (Carp. & Mach.) Any piece resembling in shape the stirrup of a saddle, and used as a support, clamp, etc. See Bridle iron.
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(Naut.) A rope secured to a yard, with a thimble in its lower end for supporting a footrope.
--Totten.Stirrup bone (Anat.), the stapes.
Stirrup cup, a parting cup taken after mounting.
Stirrup iron, an iron stirrup.
Stirrup leather, or Stirrup strap, the strap which attaches a stirrup to the saddle. See Stirrup, 1.
Usage examples of "stirrup leather".
His horse was blown, lathered with sweat and white froth, but the Hottentot servant clung to the stirrup leather still.
Even then Junipers eyes went a little wide as she landed crouching, grabbed the knight's stirrup leather, and let the savage jerk of the horse's speed add to her next jump.
He was almost jerked out over the drop, but then her stirrup leather snapped and her leg was free.
He fell onto his belly, screaming and crying as his stirrup leather broke.
Blaine was swinging on the stirrup leather, his feet skimming the ground, making giant strides as he kept level with her.
He bent a moment to touch the long cloth-wrapped package under his stirrup leather.
He pressed his left leg against Tai'daishar's flank just to feel the long bundle strapped between stirrup leather and scarlet saddle cloth.
He reached under the right knee roll and quickly unbuckled his right stirrup leather.
Shakily, she clung to his stirrup leather, her face terrible in the torchlight, her hair rising like a halo on the wind.
Reverend Mother, he said, adjusting a stirrup leather on the abbess saddle, and acutely aware of Rothana mounting another horse behind her.
Once on the ground, he had to hold onto the stirrup leather for a moment.