stirrup

noun

stir·​rup

ˈstər-əp,

 also  ˈstir-əp,

or

ˈstə-rəp 

1

: either of a pair of small light frames or rings for receiving the foot of a rider that are attached by a strap to a saddle and used to aid in mounting and as a support while riding

2

: a piece resembling a stirrup: such as

a

: one used as a support or clamp in carpentry and machinery

b

: a stirrup-shaped footrest

3

: a rope secured to a yard and attached to a thimble in its lower end for supporting a footrope

4

: stapes

Examples of stirrup in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

What was once avant-garde (the pantaloon, the stirrup, the male stocking, the chubby old manager inexplicably kitting up in full uniform) has become passé. —Zach Helfand, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024

Women can conduct routine vaginal swabbing themselves rather than submit to stirrups. —Usha Lee McFarling, STAT, 12 Jan. 2024

Check out Plush’s fleece tights with stirrups at the bottom. —Andrea Navarro, Glamour, 18 Dec. 2023

In the years that followed, the Queen opted to take a carriage instead — and in 2003, her husband, Prince Philip, hung up his stirrups and joined her. —Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 12 June 2023

The boot’s tall shaft protected the calf, while its angled heels prevented slippage in the stirrups. —Naomi Rougeau, Robb Report, 3 Oct. 2023

Instead, the jockey, 33-year-old Abel Lezcano, was clinging to the horse’s neck, hanging on sideways after one of his stirrups broke. —Praveena Somasundaram, Washington Post, 23 Aug. 2023

Lezcano’s feat has since been viewed hundreds of thousands of times online, with many praising the jockey’s strength and athleticism to stay with the horse despite the broken stirrup. —Praveena Somasundaram, Washington Post, 23 Aug. 2023

The organic pouch shape is hung around an adjustable belt, and trimmed with all the same details as the original bag, such as the front 'D' stirrup and 'CD' metal letters. —Shelby Ying Hyde, harpersbazaar.com, 31 May 2023

Word History

Etymology

Middle English stirop, from Old English stigrāp, from stig- (akin to Old High German stīgan to go up) + rāp rope — more at stair, rope

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing stirrup

• stirrup cup
• stirrup pants
• stirrup leather
• stirrup pump

Kids Definition

stirrup

noun

stir·​rup ˈstər-əp 

 also  ˈstir-əp,

 or  ˈstə-rəp

1

: either of a pair of small light frames often of metal hung by straps from a saddle and used as a support for the foot of a horseback rider

2

: the innermost bone of the chain of three small bones in the middle ear of a mammal

called also stapes

Medical Definition

stirrup

noun

stir·​rup

ˈstər-əp also ˈstir-əp or ˈstə-rəp

1

: stapes

2

: an attachment to an examining or operating table designed to raise and spread the legs of a patient