saddle

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a seat fastened on a horse, bicycle, or similar vehicle for a rider

   She tightened the saddle before mounting.

2. 2
   noun

   a low pass or ridge between two higher points

   The trail crossed a saddle between two hills.

3. 3
   verb

   to put a saddle on an animal or to burden someone with something

   The new rule saddled the team with paperwork.

From Middle English sadelen (“to put a saddle on (an animal), to saddle”) [and other forms], from Old English sadolian, sadelian, sadilian (“to saddle”), from Proto-Germanic *sadulōną (“to saddle”), from *sadulaz (“a saddle”, noun) (see further at etymology 1) + *-ōną (suffix forming denominative verbs from nouns). Cognates * Middle Dutch sādelen (modern Dutch zadelen) * Middle Low German sādelen * Old Danish sathlæ (modern Danish sadle) * Old High German satalōn, satulōn (Middle High German satelen, sateln, German satteln) * Old Norse sǫðla * Old Swedish saþla (modern Swedish sadla)

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