Main Entry:

¹hur·dle

Pronunciation:

\ˈhər-d^əl\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English hurdel, from Old English hyrdel; akin to Old High German hurt hurdle, Latin cratis wickerwork, hurdle

Date:

before 12th century

1 a: a portable panel usually of wattled withes and stakes used especially for enclosing land or livestock b: a frame or sled formerly used in England for dragging traitors to execution2 a: an artificial barrier over which racers must leap bplural : any of various track events in which a series of hurdles must be surmounted3: barrier, obstacle

[hurdle illustration]