stilt

Meaning

Noun

1. Either of two poles with footrests that allow someone to stand or walk above the ground; used mostly by entertainers.
2. A tall pillar or post used to support some structure; often above water.
3. Any of various wading birds of the genera Himantopus and Cladorhynchus, related to the avocet, that have extremely long legs and long thin bills.
4. A crutch.
5. The handle of a plough.

Verb

1. to raise on stilts, or as if on stilts
2. to apply unnecessary pomp or formality

Synonyms

pile

longlegs

piling

long-legs

stiltbird

stilt plover

spile

Australian stilt

post

Himantopus stilt

standard

support

supporter

Haematopus

house post

staddle

Haematopodidae

banded stilt

oyster catcher

strutting

column

jack

oystercatcher

pecker

prop

spur

stake

stanchion

stayer

Translations

Stelze

échasse

trampolo

pilotis

stelt

cigüeñuela

zanco

steltloper

pilote

Stelzenläufer

xanca

estaca

Stütze

Pronounced as (IPA)

/stɪlt/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: stilte

Inherited from Old English: *stilte

Cognate with Danish: stylte

Cognate with Dutch: stelt

Cognate with German: Stelze

In summary

From Middle English stilte, stulte, from Old English *stilte, *stylte, from Proto-Germanic *stiltijǭ, *staltijǭ, *stultijǭ (“stilt”), from Proto-Germanic *stelt- (“to be stiff”). Akin to Danish stylte, Dutch stelt, German Stelze.