Meanings
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1
noun
one of a pair of tall poles with raised footrests that allow a person to walk high above the ground
The performer crossed the square on stilts while juggling three balls.
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2
noun
a post or pillar that supports a structure above the ground or water
The house stands on concrete stilts above the floodplain.
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3
noun
a long-legged wading bird with a slender bill, usually found near shallow water
A black-winged stilt searched the lagoon for insects and small crustaceans.
Thesaurus
Etymology
From Middle English stilte, probably from an Old English or wider Germanic base associated with stiffness and standing upright; compare Dutch stelt and German Stelze. The bird was named for its exceptionally long, stiltlike legs.