astrideadv.prep.adj.
/əˈstrʌɪd/, U.S. /əˈstraɪd/ A. adv.
a. In a striding position; with the legs stretched wide apart, or so that one leg is on each side of some object between, as when a person is on horseback. astride of: bestriding.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > transport > riding on horse (or other animal) > [adverb] > astride
striddling1632
astride1664
a-straddle1703
stradlings1823
straddle-leg1836
straddle1857
strideways1859
cross-saddle1897
the world > space > relative position > posture > position of specific body parts > [adverb] > legs
striddlingc1440
lirylongc1460
a (also on) cock-horse1564
cock-horse1566
stridelong1609
astride1664
stride-legged1688
a-straddle1703
stride-leg1809
straddle-legged1817
striddle-legs1825
straddle-leg1836
straddleback1839
straddle1857
strideways1859
straddle-wise1865
straddle-fashion1873
straddleways1919
1664 S. Butler Hudibras: Second Pt. ii. ii. 121 Does not the Whore of Babylon ride Upon her Horned-Beast astride?
1785 W. Cowper Tirocinium in Task 366 The playful jockey scow'rs the room..astride upon the parlour broom. View more context for this quotation
1854 W. M. Thackeray Newcomes I. xxx. 297 The way in which the impudent little beggar stands astride, and sticks his little feet out.
1860 S. Smiles Self-help (new ed.) viii. 209 Sitting astride of a house-roof.
b. transferred and figurative.
ΚΠ
1704 J. Swift Tale of Tub ix. 171 When a Man's Fancy gets astride on his Reason.
1841 A. Alison Hist. Europe from French Revol. IX. lxx. 392 Napoleon's central position astride on the Elbe.
B. prep.
With one leg on each side of, bestriding.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > posture > position of specific body parts > with one leg on each side of [preposition]
astride1713
1713 J. Addison in Guardian 20 July 1/2 It is my design to sit astride the Dragon upon Bow Steeple.
1883 E. P. Roe in Harper's Mag. Dec. 49/1 Astride his grandpa's cane.
C. adj.
Of a seat on horseback: belonging or proper to one riding astride.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > transport > riding on horse (or other animal) > [adjective] > specific manner of sitting
straddle-legged1817
English1868
astride1889
bareback1923
1889 in Cent. Dict.
1907 Daily Chron. 25 Oct. 3/5 Makers of riding habits are going to make a special effort to show that the ‘astride’ seat can be made elegant.
1930 S. G. Goldschmidt Fellowship of Horse ix. 132 Some say that astride riding is safer.
1931 Times Lit. Suppl. 26 Nov. 944/4 The Dianas of our modern horse-shows will be mildly surprised to learn..that the astride seat is impossible for women.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1885; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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adv.prep.adj.1664