stilt
- stilt
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I. noun
Etymology: Middle English stilte; akin to Old High German stelza stilt
Date: 15th century
1.
a. one of two poles each with a rest or strap for the foot used to elevate the wearer above the ground in walking
b. a pile or post serving as one of the supports of a structure above ground or water level
2. plural also stilt any of several very long-legged 3-toed shorebirds (genera Himantopus and Cladorhynchus) that are related to the avocets, frequent inland ponds and marshes, and nest in small colonies
II. transitive verb
Date: 1649
to raise on or as if on stilts
New Collegiate Dictionary.
2001.
:
Look at other dictionaries:
Stilt — Stilt, n. [OE. stilte; akin to Dan. stylte, Sw. stylta, LG. & D. stelt, OHG. stelza, G. stelze, and perh. to E. stout.] 1. A pole, or piece of wood, constructed with a step or loop to raise the foot above the ground in walking. It is sometimes… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
stilt — stilt; stilt·ed; stilt·ed·ness; stilt·er; stilt·ed·ly; … English syllables
stilt — [stilt] n. [ME stilte, prob. < MLowG or MDu stelte, akin to Ger stelze: for base see STILL1] 1. either of a pair of poles, each with a footrest somewhere along its length, used for walking with the feet above the ground, as by children at play … English World dictionary
stilt´ed|ly — stilt|ed «STIHL tihd», adjective. 1. stiffly dignified or formal: »stilted conversation. He has a stilted manner of speaking. There were letters of stilted penitence to his father, for some wrong doing (Elizabeth Gaskell). SYNONYM(S): pompous. 2 … Useful english dictionary
stilt|ed — «STIHL tihd», adjective. 1. stiffly dignified or formal: »stilted conversation. He has a stilted manner of speaking. There were letters of stilted penitence to his father, for some wrong doing (Elizabeth Gaskell). SYNONYM(S): pompous. 2.… … Useful english dictionary
Stilt — Stilt, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Stilted}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Stilting}.] To raise on stilts, or as if on stilts. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
stilt — [stılt] n [C usually plural] [Date: 1300 1400; Origin: Probably from Low German] 1.) one of a set of poles that support a building above the ground or above water on stilts ▪ a house built on stilts 2.) one of two poles which you can stand on and … Dictionary of contemporary English
stilt — [ stılt ] noun count 1. ) one of two long narrow pieces of wood with places to put your feet on so that you can stand on them to walk high above the ground 2. ) one of a set of posts that a house is built on to raise it above the ground or above… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
stilt — early 14c., a crutch, from P.Gmc. *steltijon (Cf. M.L.G., M.Du. stelte stilt, O.H.G. stelza plow handle, crutch ), from PIE root *stel to put, stand (see STALL (Cf. stall) (n.1)). Application to wooden poles for walking across marshy ground, etc … Etymology dictionary
stilt — ► NOUN 1) either of a pair of upright poles with supports for the feet enabling the user to walk raised above the ground. 2) each of a set of posts or piles supporting a building. 3) a long billed wading bird with very long slender legs. ORIGIN… … English terms dictionary
stilt|er — «STIHL tuhr», noun. a person who walks on or as if on stilts … Useful english dictionary
