Hypertext Webster Gateway: "stilt"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Stilt \Stilt\, n. [OE. stilte; akin to Dan. stylte, Sw. stylta,
LG. & D. stelt, OHG. stelza, G. stelze, and perh. to E.
stout.]
1. 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.
Ambition is but avarice on stilts, and masked.
--Landor.
2. A crutch; also, the handle of a plow. [Prov. Eng.]
--Halliwell.
3. (Zo["o]l.) 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}.
Note: 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.
{Stilt plover} (Zo["o]l.), the stilt.
{Stilt sandpiper} (Zo["o]l.), an American sandpiper
({Micropalama himantopus}) having long legs. The bill is
somewhat expanded at the tip.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Stilt \Stilt\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Stilted}; p. pr. & vb. n.
{Stilting}.]
To raise on stilts, or as if on stilts.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
stilt
n 1: a column of wood or steel or concrete that is driven into
the ground to provide support for a structure [syn: {pile},
{spile}, {piling}]
2: one of two stout poles with foot rests in the middle; used
for walking high above the ground; "he was so tall I
thought he was on stilts"
3: long-legged three-toed wading bird of brackish marshes of
Australia [syn: {Australian stilt}]
4: long-legged three-toed black-and-white wading bird of inland
ponds and marshes or brackish lagoons [syn: {stiltbird}, {longlegs},
{stilt plover}, {Himantopus stilt}]
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