Added 9 October 2026
stilt
/stɪlt/ noun
In Latin: grallae Wiktionary
noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about stilt at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
- A column of wood or steel or concrete that is driven into the ground to provide support for a structure.
-
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
- Long-legged three-toed wading bird of brackish marshes of Australia.
Origin
From Middle English stilte, stulte, from Old English *stilte, *stylte, from Proto-Germanic *stiltijǭ, *staltijǭ, *stultijǭ (“stilt”), from Proto-Germanic *stelt- (“to be stiff”). Akin to Danish stylte, Dutch stelt, German Stelze.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)