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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."
2
The seat of a bicycle or motorcycle.
"He raised the bike saddle to fit his height."
3
A dip or low point between two peaks in a mountain ridge.
"The trail crosses a narrow saddle between the two summits."
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."
2
To put a saddle on an animal.
"She saddled the horse and rode out at dawn."

How to use saddle

Learner’s notes

In 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

Word forms

saddled past tense, saddles plural, saddle plural, saddled plural, saddles singular, saddle singular, saddled singular, saddlest singular, saddledst singular, saddleth singular

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She adjusted the _____ before mounting her horse.

Etymology

From Old English sadol, from Proto-Germanic *sadulaz — likely tracing to a root meaning "to sit."

Origin: Old English

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.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial