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straddle

/ˈstɹædəl/ noun

In Latin: vārīcō First recorded: 1610 Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about straddle at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

  1. A noncommittal or equivocal position.
  2. A gymnastic exercise performed with a leg on either side of the parallel bars.
  3. The act of sitting or standing astride.

verb

  1. Sit or stand astride of.
  2. Range or extend over; occupy a certain area.
    The plants straddle the entire state
  3. Be noncommittal.

Origin

As a verb, attested since the 1560s. Most likely, an alteration of dialectal striddle. The noun is first attested in the 1610s.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)