stirrup

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”).

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈstɪɹəp/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈstɝəp/, /ˈstɪɹəp/

stirrup (plural stirrups)

1. A ring or hoop suspended by a rope or strap from the saddle, for a horseman's foot while mounting or riding.
2. (anatomy) A stapes.
3. Any piece shaped like the stirrup of a saddle, used as a support, clamp, etc.
   • 1898, Winston Churchill, chapter 2, in The Celebrity:

     Sunning himself on the board steps, I saw for the first time Mr. Farquhar Fenelon Cooke. […] A silver snaffle on a heavy leather watch guard which connected the pockets of his corduroy waistcoat, together with a huge gold stirrup in his Ascot tie, sufficiently proclaimed his tastes.

4. (nautical) A rope secured to a yard, with a thimble in its lower end for supporting a footrope.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Totten to this entry?)

stirrup (not comparable)

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

• irrupts