stirrup

UK: /ˈstɪrəp/

US: /ˈstɜrəp, ˈstɪr-/

US: (stûr′əp, stir′-, stur′-)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

stir•rup /ˈstɜrəp, ˈstɪr-/   n. [countable]

1. a loop, ring, etc., hung from the saddle of a horse to support the rider's foot.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

stir•rup  (stûr′əp, stir′-, stur′-), n. 

1. a loop, ring, or other contrivance of metal, wood, leather, etc., suspended from the saddle of a horse to support the rider's foot.
2. any of various similar supports or clamps used for special purposes.
3. [Naut.] a short rope with an eye at the end hung from a yard to support a footrope, the footrope being rove through the eye.
4. Also called binder. (in reinforced-concrete constructions) aU-shaped orW-shaped bent rod for supporting longitudinal reinforcing rods.
5. [Anat.] stapes.
6. Clothing
   • a strap of fabric or elastic at the bottom of a pair of pants, worn around and under the foot.
   • stirrups, (used with a pl. v.) close-fitting knit pants with such straps.

• bef. 1000; Middle English; Old English stigrāp (stige ascent + rāp rope); cognate with German Stegreif 

stir′rup•less, adj. 
stir′rup•like′, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

stirrup / ˈstɪrəp/ noun

1. Also called: stirrup iron either of two metal loops on a riding saddle, with a flat footpiece through which a rider puts his or her foot for support. They are attached to the saddle by stirrup leathers
2. a U-shaped support or clamp made of metal, wood, leather, etc
3. one of a set of ropes fastened to a yard at one end and having a thimble at the other through which a footrope is rove for support

Etymology: Old English stigrāp, from stīg path, step (related to Old High German stīgan to move up) + rāp rope; related to Old Norse stigreip, Old High German stegareif