STILT • E-FREE TRANSLATION.COM • Definition of Stilt

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noun

Stilt n.

A pole, or piece of wood, constructed with a step or loop to raise the foot above the ground in walking. It is sometimes lashed to the leg, and sometimes prolonged upward so as to be steadied by the hand or arm. "Ambition is but avarice on stilts, and masked."

A crutch; also, the handle of a plow. (Prov. Eng.)

(Zool.) Any species of limicoline birds belonging to Himantopus and allied genera, in which the legs are remarkably long and slender. Called also longshanks, stiltbird, stilt plover, and lawyer. Note: The American species (Himantopus Mexicanus) is well known. The European and Asiatic stilt (Himantopus candidus) is usually white, except the wings and interscapulars, which are greenish black. The white-headed stilt (Himantopus leucocephalus) and the banded stilt (Cladorhynchus pectoralis) are found in Australia.

Stilt plover (Zool.), the stilt.

Stilt sandpiper (Zool.), an American sandpiper (Micropalama himantopus) having long legs. The bill is somewhat expanded at the tip.

verb

Stilt v. t. (past & past part. stilted; pres. part. stilting) To raise on stilts, or as if on stilts.

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Etymology of 'Stilt'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Stilt" Quotes from Famous Books

... pastures, the copses leafless. But such a sense of hidden life everywhere! I stood long beside the gate to watch the new-born lambs, whose cries thrilled plaintively on the air, like the notes of a violin. Little black-faced grey creatures, on their high, stilt-like legs—a week or two old, and yet able to walk, to gambol, to rejoice, in their way, to reflect. The bleating mothers moved about, divided between a deep desire to eat, and the anxious care of their ...

— The Altar Fire • Arthur Christopher Benson

... coming up out of breath. 'So are we. How are you, Short?' With that they shook hands in a very friendly manner. The young people being too high up for the ordinary salutations, saluted Short after their own fashion. The young gentleman twisted up his right stilt and patted him on the shoulder, and the young lady ...

— The Old Curiosity Shop • Charles Dickens

... and night here, and endeavour to obtain a fresh supply of provisions, our stock of salt beef being now nearly exhausted. The situation of the house was beautiful; the little harbour being gay with water plants, Pontederiae, now full of purple blossom, from which flocks of stilt-legged water-fowl started up screaming as we entered. The owner sent a boy with my men to show them the best place for fish up the creek, and in the course of the evening sold me a number of fowls, besides baskets of beans and farina. The result of the fishing was a good supply of Jandia, ...

— The Naturalist on the River Amazons • Henry Walter Bates

... to support its most inveterate diseases. The representation of the counties is, I think, still preserved pure and uncorrupted. That of the greatest cities is upon a footing equally respectable; and there are many of the larger trading towns which stilt preserve their independence. The infusion of health which I now allude to would be to permit every county to elect one member more in addition to their present representation." Sir Philip Francis's report of this speech was first printed by Almon in 1792. Junius, ...

— Letters of Horace Walpole, V4 • Horace Walpole