[syn: stilt, stiltbird, longlegs, long-legs, stilt plover, Himantopus stilt]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
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.
[1913 Webster]
Ambition is but avarice on stilts, and masked.
--Landor.
[1913 Webster]
2. A crutch; also, the handle of a plow. [Prov. Eng.]
--Halliwell.
[1913 Webster]
3. (Zool.) 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]
Note: The American species (Himantopus Mexicanus) is well
known. The European and Asiatic stilt (Himantopus
candidus) is usually white, except the wings and
interscapulars, which are greenish black. The
white-headed stilt (Himantopus leucocephalus) and the
banded stilt (Cladorhynchus pectoralis) are found in
Australia.
[1913 Webster]
Stilt plover (Zool.), the stilt.
Stilt sandpiper (Zool.), an American sandpiper
(Micropalama himantopus) having long legs. The bill is
somewhat expanded at the tip.
[1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Stilt \Stilt\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Stilted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Stilting.]
To raise on stilts, or as if on stilts.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
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, stilt]
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: stilt, Australian stilt]
4: long-legged three-toed black-and-white wading bird of inland
ponds and marshes or brackish lagoons [syn: stilt,
stiltbird, longlegs, long-legs, stilt plover,
Himantopus stilt]