saddle

[sad-l]

noun

1. a seat for a rider on the back of a horse or other animal.

2. a similar seat on a bicycle, tractor, etc.

3. a part of a harness laid across the back of an animal and girded under the belly, to which the terrets and checkhook are attached.

4. something resembling a saddle in shape, position, or function.

5. the part of the back of an animal where a saddle is placed.

6. 1. (of mutton, venison, lamb, etc.) a cut comprising both loins.

   2. this cut, trimmed and prepared for roasting.

7. (of poultry) the posterior part of the back.

8. a ridge connecting two higher elevations.

9. the covering of a roof ridge.

10. bolster.

11. a raised piece of flooring between the jambs of a doorway.

12. an inverted bracket bearing on the axle of a railroad car wheel as a support for the car body.

13. Ordnance.,  the support for the trunnion on some gun carriages.

14. Machinery.,  a sliding part for spanning a space or other parts to support something else, as the cross slide and toolholder of a lathe.

15. a strip of leather, often of a contrasting color, sewn on the vamp or instep of a shoe and extending to each side of the shank.

16. saddle shoe.

17. Ceramics.,  a bar of refractory clay, triangular in section, for supporting one side of an object being fired.

18. (in a suspension bridge) a member at the top of a tower for supporting a cable.

verb (used with object)

saddled, saddling 

1. to put a saddle on.

   to saddle a horse.

2. to load or charge, as with a burden.

   He has saddled himself with a houseful of impecunious relatives.

3. to impose as a burden or responsibility.

verb (used without object)

saddled, saddling 

1. to put a saddle on a horse (often followed byup ).

2. to mount into the saddle (often followed byup ).

saddle

/ ˈsædəl /

noun

1. a seat for a rider, usually made of leather, placed on a horse's back and secured with a girth under the belly

2. a similar seat on a bicycle, tractor, etc, made of leather or steel

3. a back pad forming part of the harness of a packhorse

4. anything that resembles a saddle in shape, position, or function

5. a cut of meat, esp mutton, consisting of part of the backbone and both loins

6. the part of a horse or similar animal on which a saddle is placed

7. the part of the back of a domestic chicken that is nearest to the tail

8. civil engineering a block on top of one of the towers of a suspension bridge that acts as a bearing surface over which the cables or chains pass

9. engineering the carriage that slides on the bed of a lathe and supports the slide rest, tool post, or turret

10. the nontechnical name for clitellum

11. another name for col

12. a raised piece of wood or metal for covering a doorsill

13. in a position of control

verb

1. (sometimes foll by up) to put a saddle on (a horse)

2. (intr) to mount into the saddle

3. (tr) to burden; charge

   I didn't ask to be saddled with this job

Other Word Forms

• saddleless adjective
• saddlelike adjective
• resaddle verb
• saddle-like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of saddle¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English noun sadel, saddul, Old English sadol; cognate with German Sattel, Old Norse sǫthull; akin to Latin sella (from unattested sedla ) “seat, stool, chair”; Middle English verb sad(e)len, Old English sadolian, derivative of the noun; sit ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of saddle¹

Old English sadol, sædel; related to Old Norse sothull, Old High German satul

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in the saddle,

   1. in a position to direct or command; in control.

   2. at work; on the job.

More idioms and phrases containing saddle

• in the driver's seat (saddle)

Example Sentences

The storyline will surely resonate among those saddled with their own college debt or just feeling pinched by rising costs at the grocery store.

From Los Angeles Times

“I’m back in the saddle in the debate arena,” Bayless said.

From Los Angeles Times

It also says that defending against Musk’s lawsuits as well as investigations by those states’ attorneys general and the FTC have saddled Media Matters with $15 million in legal fees.

From Salon

Get the inefficient government off the backs of the people, the idea goes, so Wall Street can saddle up.

From Los Angeles Times

But Bell is actually too convincing at playing a damaged woman saddled with dialogue that’s only slightly screwier than what we’d encounter in a Lifetime movie.

From Salon