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saddle

Flag: gbEnglishOxford Dictionary of English
saddle /ˈsadl /
▸ noun
1 a seat fastened on the back of a horse or other animal for riding, typically made of leather and raised at the front and rear.
▪ a seat on a bicycle or motorcycle.
2 a low part of a ridge between two higher points or peaks:
follow the road which goes across the saddle between two tors.
▪ Mathematics a low region of a curve between two high points, especially (in three dimensions) one representing the highest point of a curve in one direction and the lowest point in another direction.
3 a shaped support on which a cable, wire, or pipe rests.
▪ a fireclay bar for supporting ceramic ware in a kiln.
▪ the part of a draught horse's harness which supports the straps to which the shafts are attached.
4 the lower part of the back in a mammal or fowl, especially when distinct in shape or marking:
feathers at the rear of a rooster's saddle.
▪ a joint of meat consisting of the two loins:
a saddle of lamb
[mass noun] a recipe for saddle of hare.
▸ verb [with object]
1 put a saddle on (a horse):
he was in the stable saddling up his horse.
▪ (of a trainer) enter (a horse) for a race:
he saddles Native Mission in today's Tote Gold Trophy Hurdle at Newbury.
2 (be saddled with) burden (someone) with an onerous responsibility or task:
he's saddled with debts of $12 million.
– PHRASES
in the saddle on horseback:
a six-day trail ride, with six hours daily in the saddle.
▪
in a position of control or responsibility:
strategic Toryism must get back in the saddle.
– DERIVATIVES
saddleless /ˈsad(ə)lləs / adjective
– ORIGIN Old English sadol, sadul, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch zadel and German Sattel, perhaps from an Indo-European root shared by Latin sella ‘seat’ and sit.