# stirrup

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈstɪ.ɹəp/ · frequency rank #57,101

## Definitions
1. A ring or hoop suspended by a rope or strap from the saddle, for a horseman's foot while mounting or riding.
2. Any piece shaped like the stirrup of a saddle, used as a support, clamp, etc.
3. Any piece shaped like the stirrup of a saddle, used as a support, clamp, etc.
4. A stapes.
5. A rope secured to a yard, with a thimble in its lower end for supporting a footrope.
6. A bent rebar wrapped around the main rebars to reinforce against shear stress.

## 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”).

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/stirrup