stilt

• POS: Noun, Verb (transitive)

CIDE DICTIONARY

stilt, n. [OE. stilte; akin to Dan. stylte, Sw. stylta, LG. & D. stelt, OHG. stelza, G. stelze, and perh. to E. stout.].

•  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.  [1913 Webster]

  "Ambition is but avarice on stilts, and masked."  [1913 Webster]
•  A crutch; also, the handle of a plow.  Halliwell.  [1913 Webster]
•  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.  [1913 Webster]

  " The American species (Himantopus Mexicanus) is well known. The European and Asiatic stilt (H. candidus) is usually white, except the wings and interscapulars, which are greenish black. The white-headed stilt (H. leucocephalus) and the banded stilt (Cladorhynchus pectoralis) are found in Australia."  [1913 Webster]

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

stilt, v. t. 

 To raise on stilts, or as if on stilts.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

stilt, n.
1 either of a pair of poles with supports for the feet enabling the user to walk at a distance above the ground.
2 each of a set of piles or posts supporting a building etc.
3 a any wading bird of the genus Himantopus with long legs. b (in comb.) denoting a long-legged kind of bird (stilt-petrel).
4 a three-legged support for ceramic ware in a kiln.

Idiom

on stilts 1 supported by stilts.
2 bombastic, stilted.

Derivative

stiltless adj.

Etymology

ME & LG stilte f. Gmc