Stilt
- Stilt
- 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 lashed to the leg, and sometimes prolonged
upward so as to be steadied by the hand or arm.
[1913 Webster]
Ambition is but avarice on stilts, and masked.
--Landor.
[1913 Webster]
2. A crutch; also, the handle of a plow. [Prov. Eng.]
--Halliwell.
[1913 Webster]
3. (Zo["o]l.) Any species of limicoline birds belonging to
{Himantopus} and allied genera, in which the legs are
remarkably long and slender. Called also {longshanks},
{stiltbird}, {stilt plover}, and {lawyer}.
[1913 Webster]
Note: The American species ({Himantopus Mexicanus}) is well
known. The European and Asiatic stilt ({H. candidus})
is usually white, except the wings and interscapulars,
which are greenish black. The white-headed stilt ({H.
leucocephalus}) and the banded stilt ({Cladorhynchus
pectoralis}) are found in Australia.
[1913 Webster]
{Stilt plover} (Zo["o]l.), the stilt.
{Stilt sandpiper} (Zo["o]l.), an American sandpiper
({Micropalama himantopus}) having long legs. The bill is
somewhat expanded at the tip.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
2000.
:
Look at other dictionaries:
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
