saddle

¹sad·dle

noun, often attributive \ˈsa-d^əl\

Definition of SADDLE

1

a (1) : a girthed usually padded and leather-covered seat for the rider of an animal (as a horse) (2) : a part of a driving harness comparable to a saddle that is used to keep the breeching in place b : a seat to be straddled by the rider of a vehicle (as a bicycle)

2

: a device mounted as a support and often shaped to fit the object held

3

a : a ridge connecting two higher elevations b : a pass in a mountain range

4

a : both sides of the unsplit back of a carcass including both loins b : a colored marking on the back of an animal c : the rear part of a male fowl's back extending to the tail — see duck illustration

5

: the central part of the spine of the binding of a book

6

: a piece of leather across the instep of a shoe

— sad·dle·less \-d^əl-(l)əs\ adjective

— in the saddle

: in control

Examples of SADDLE

1. <the next day's hike was a stiff climb out of the saddle where they had camped for the night>

Illustration of SADDLE

Origin of SADDLE

Middle English sadel, from Old English sadol; akin to Old High German satul saddle

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to SADDLE

Synonyms: col, couloir, defile, flume, gap, gill [British], gorge, gulch, gulf, kloof [South African], linn [chiefly Scottish], notch, pass, ravine, canyon

Related Words: abyss, chasm, cirque, cleft, crevasse, crevice, cwm [chiefly British], fissure; combe (also coombe or coomb) [British], dale, dell, glen, hollow, shut-in, vale, valley; basin, floodplain, kettle; arroyo, barranca (also barranco), coulee, draw, gully (also gulley), gutter, nullah, trench, trough, wadi, wash [West]

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Other Equestrian Terms

canter, cantle, curry, farrier, hunter, paddock, router, skirt, tack

Rhymes with SADDLE

addle, paddle, raddle, spraddle, staddle, straddle