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stirrup

Etymology and origin of the English word stirrup

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈstɪ.ɹəp/, /ˈstʌ.ɹəp/ (UK); /ˈstɝ.əp/, /ˈstɪɹ.əp/ (US)[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English stirope, inherited from Old English stīgrāp,[2][3][4][5][6] literally “climbing rope”,[3][4] from Old English stīg (“a climbing, ascent”) + rāp (“rope”).[2][3][4][5][6] It is related to German Stegreif and Old Norse stigreip.[3][4][6]

Earliest recorded meaning

A support for the foot of a rider, hung from the saddle (c. 1000).[7][3][4]

Semantic evolution

The stirrup was originally a looped rope to help in mounting.[4][6] The word was extended to any piece resembling it in form or function,[4] such as the foot rest of a crossbow (1371–73),[7] a strap passing under the foot of a stocking or trousers (1650s),[4][7] and the surgical supports used in childbirth (1884).[4] The stirrup cup, a drink handed to a rider about to set out, hence a parting glass, dates from the 1680s.[4]

Timeline

  • c. 1000 – a rider's foot support.[7][3]
  • 1371–73 – the foot rest of a crossbow.[7]
  • 1650s – a strap passing under the foot.[4]
  • 1680s – stirrup cup.[4]
  • 1884 – a surgical stirrup.[4]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. A flat-based loop or ring hung from either side of a horse's saddle to support the rider's foot.
  2. Any of various U-shaped supports or clamps.
  3. (nautical) A rope hanging from a yard with an eye through which a footrope passes.
  4. (anatomy) The stapes, a small bone of the middle ear.

Word family

  • stirrup cup
  • stirrup bone
  • stile
  • stair
  • rope
  • stapes
  • saddle

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
  3. ^ a b c d e f Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Harper, Douglas, Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  5. ^ a b Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  6. ^ a b c d Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1999), 2nd ed., New York: Random House
  7. ^ a b c d e Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Stirrup.” Etymologically, 11 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/stirrup. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·