noun
Uncommon
saddle
SADL
Saddle (noun) means a leather seat fitted to the back of a horse or other animal for a rider. Example: “She adjusted the saddle before mounting her horse.”
noun
1
A leather seat fitted to the back of a horse or other animal for a rider.
"She adjusted the saddle before mounting her horse."
"The old leather saddle creaked every time the rider shifted her weight."
"He bought a new saddle because the horse's back had become sore."
2
The seat of a bicycle or motorcycle.
"He raised the bike saddle to fit his height."
"My bike saddle was so hard that my legs ached after the ride."
"She slid forward on the saddle as the motorbike started to roll."
3
A dip or low point between two peaks in a mountain ridge.
"The trail crosses a narrow saddle between the two summits."
"We stopped for lunch on the saddle, where the wind was cold."
"From the saddle between the peaks, you can see both valleys."
verb
1
To burden someone with a difficult responsibility or debt.
"The new owners were saddled with years of unpaid debt."
"He got saddled with the worst shift on the schedule."
"Please do not saddle me with the whole project when I have so little time."
2
To put a saddle on an animal.
"She saddled the horse and rode out at dawn."
"Before the lesson, the children learned how to saddle a pony safely."
"Every morning he saddles his mare and checks the straps twice."
How to use saddle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA riding seat for a horse or bike, or (as a verb) to burden someone with something.
Common pairings
saddle up
saddled with debt
in the saddle
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Word forms
- Plural
- saddles
- Third person singular
- saddles
- Past tense
- saddled
- Archaic forms
- saddlest, saddledst, saddleth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She adjusted the _____ before mounting her horse.
Etymology
From Old English sadol, from Proto-Germanic *sadulaz — likely tracing to a root meaning "to sit."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
unsaddle
Related words
Rhymes for saddle
See all rhymes for saddle →Frequently asked questions
What does “saddle” mean?
The word “saddle” means a leather seat fitted to the back of a horse or other animal for a rider. In plain terms, a riding seat for a horse or bike, or (as a verb) to burden someone with something.
How do you pronounce “saddle”?
“Saddle” is pronounced SADL (/ˈsæd(ə)l/ in IPA).
How do you use “saddle” in a sentence?
Here is “saddle” used in a sentence: “She adjusted the saddle before mounting her horse.”
What part of speech is “saddle”?
Depending on how it is used, “saddle” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “saddle” come from?
The word “saddle” comes from Old English. From Old English sadol, from Proto-Germanic *sadulaz — likely tracing to a root meaning "to sit.".
Is “saddle” a common word?
“Saddle” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “saddle” have?
“Saddle” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a leather seat fitted to the back of a horse or other animal for a rider.
What is the difference between a saddle and a seat on a bicycle?
On a bicycle, the seat is specifically called a saddle, so the two terms refer to the same part rather than different things. The word saddle is used across horses, bicycles, and motorcycles for the seat a rider sits on.
What does it mean to be saddled with something?
To be saddled with something means to be burdened with a difficult responsibility or debt, using the image of a heavy saddle load placed on someone's back. It is commonly used for financial burdens, such as being saddled with debt, or unwanted obligations.
What is a saddle in mountain terrain?
In mountain terrain, a saddle refers to a dip or low point between two peaks along a ridge, resembling the shape of a riding saddle. Hikers often use saddles as natural passes between higher summits.
