stirrup

Etymology

From Middle English stirop, stirope, from Old English stiġrāp (“stirrup”), a compound of stiġe ("ascent, descent, a going up or down"; related to stīġan (“to climb”)) and rāp (“rope”), equivalent to sty + rope. Cognate with Dutch stegereep, stegelreep (“stirrup”), Old Saxon stigerēp (“stirrup”), Middle High German stereip, stegreif ("stirrup"; > German Stegreif (“improvisation”)), Icelandic stigreip (“stirrup”).

noun

1. (equestrianism) A ring or hoop suspended by a rope or strap from the saddle, for a horseman's foot while mounting or riding.
2. (by extension) Any piece shaped like the stirrup of a saddle, used as a support, clamp, etc.
   1. (climbing) A portable, flexible ladder-like device used in climbing.
3. (anatomy) A stapes.
4. (nautical) A rope secured to a yard, with a thimble in its lower end for supporting a footrope.
   For quotations using this term, see Citations:stirrup.
5. (construction) A bent rebar wrapped around the main rebars to reinforce against shear stress.

adj

1. Referring to women's pants/trousers: being of a form, commonly worn by women, that includes a strap beneath the arch of the foot.