saddle
UK /ˈsædl̩/ · US /ˈsæd(ə)l/ noun, verb, proper noun
Forms saddles saddling saddled saddlest saddledst saddleth
- noun A seat for a rider, typically made of leather and raised in the front and rear, placed on the back of a horse or other animal, and secured by a strap around the animal's body.
- noun A similar implement used to secure goods to animals; a packsaddle.
- noun Synonym of harness saddle (“the part of a harness which supports the weight of poles or shafts attaching a vehicle to a horse or other animal”).
- noun A cushion used as a seat in a cart or other vehicle.
- noun The immovable seat of a bicycle, motorcycle, or similar vehicle.
- noun Chiefly preceded by the: horse-riding as an activity or occupation.
- noun Synonym of saddle brown (“a medium brown colour, like that of saddle leather”).
- noun A low point, in the shape of a saddle, between two hills.
- verb To put a saddle (noun sense 1) on (an animal).
- verb To put (something) on to another thing like a saddle on an animal.
- verb To enter (a trained horse) into a race.
- verb (often passive voice) Chiefly followed by with: to burden or encumber (someone) with some problem or responsibility. “He has been saddled with the task of collecting evidence of the theft.”
- verb Chiefly followed by on or upon: to place (a burden or responsibility) or thrust (a problem) on someone.
- verb (archaic) To control or restrain (someone or something), as if using a saddle; to bridle, to harness, to rein in.
- verb (obsolete, rare) To get (someone) to do a burdensome task.
- verb (woodworking) To cut a saddle-shaped notch in (a log or other piece of wood) so it can fit together with other such logs or pieces; also, to fit (logs or other pieces of wood) together with this method.
- proper noun A sub-sitio in the sitio of Proper Pudong, barangay of Pudong, Kapangan, Benguet, Philippines.
Synonyms
harness saddle saddle brown saddle reef saddle point saddle oxford or saddle shoe saddleback bicycle seat charge burden
Antonyms
Etymology
From Middle English sadel, from Old English sadol, from Proto-West Germanic *sadul, from Proto-Germanic *sadulaz (“saddle”). Further etymology uncertain, perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *sod-dʰlo-, from *sed- (“to sit”) + *-dʰlom (a variant of *-trom (suffix forming nouns denoting instruments or tools)), though the Oxford English Dictionary says this “presents formal difficulties”.
* Low German Sadel
* Russian седло́ (sedló)
* Saterland Frisian Soadel
* West Frisian seal
From Middle English sadelen (“to put a saddle on (an animal), to saddle”) [and other forms], from Old English sadolian, sadelian, sadilian (“to saddle”), from Proto-Germanic *sadulōną (“to saddle”), from *sadulaz (“a saddle”, noun) (see further at etymology 1) + *-ōną (suffix forming denominative verbs from nouns).
* Middle Dutch sādelen (modern Dutch zadelen)
* Middle Low German sādelen
* Old Danish sathlæ (modern Danish sadle)
* Old High German satalōn, satulōn (Middle High German satelen, sateln, German satteln)
* Old Norse sǫðla
* Old Swedish saþla (modern Swedish sadla)
Webster’s 1913
- noun A seat for a rider, --usually made of leather, padded to span comfortably a horse's back, furnished with stirrups for the rider's feet to rest in, and fastened in place with a girth; also, a seat for the rider on a bicycle or tricycle.
- noun A padded part of a harness which is worn on a horse's back, being fastened in place with a girth. It serves various purposes, as to keep the breeching in place, carry guides for the reins, etc.
- verb To put a saddle upon; to equip (a beast) for riding. "saddle my horse." Shak.
- verb Hence: To fix as a charge or burden upon; to load; to encumber; as, to saddle a town with the expense of bridges and highways.
Etymology [OE. sadel, AS. sadol; akin to D. zadel, G. sattel, OHG. satal, satul, Icel. söedhull, Dan. & Sw. sadel; cf. Russ. siedlo; all perh. ultimately from the root of E. sit.]
Etymology [AS. sadelian.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “saddle”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details