Knight's Mechanical Encyclopedia, S., Stir′rup.

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19th-Century American

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Stir′rup.

1. (Manege.) A loop or ring suspended from the saddle for the foot of the rider.

Fig. 5821 shows several kinds of stirrups.

a. is formed of a block of wood, through which the stirrupleather is rove. a′ is the block detached.

b has a pair of branches, which, if a rider be thrown and the foot catch in the stirrup; pull apart and release the foot b′ is a spring which holds the parts in normal position, except when the strain occurs in case of accident.

c is also a safety-stirrup, having a pivoted foot-rest which throws the foot of a dismounted rider out of the stirrup.

d has a roller at the top and joints at the sides, to release the foot.

e has a guard to keep the foot from penetrating so far that it would be jammed in case of accident.

f is the Eagle stirrup. It has a bent wooden frame, with arms united at top by a ferrule and stirrup-strap.

g shows the frame detached. h is the hood.

The ancients mounted their horses in various ways:—

By vaulting.

By short ladders.

By teaching their horses to kneel.

By horse-blocks.

By grooms, who lifted them on.

By the hands or knees of their servants.

By a step or projecting-bar on their spears.

No traces of the stirrup are found in the old Greek and Latin writings, coins, or statues. The celebrated equestrian statues of Trajan and Antoninus are destitute of stirrups, the legs of the riders hanging down without any support whatever. Xenophon does not mention them in his work on horsemanship and the art of riding. See saddle.

Stirrups.

Hippocrates and Galen speak of a disease among the Scythians occasioned by long and frequent riding, because the legs hang down without any support. There is no word in Greek or Latin, down to the sixth century, which signifies the stirrup or its use.

The first mention of the stirrup is in the work ascribed to the Emperor Mauritius, in the sixth century. He says, “The horseman must have at his side two iron scaloe.” Leo VI., in his work on tactics, ninth century, uses the same word and describes the function of the stirrup. In the twelfth century they were common.

The Greek and Roman soldiers were trained to vault on to horseback, but in some cases mounted by a step on the spear which rested against the horse.

Stirrups were introduced into England by the Saxons. Stirrups and spurs appear on seals of the eleventh century.

The Japanese stirrups are of iron or sappan wood, very thick and heavy, not unlike the sole of a boot, and open on one side, so that the foot may be easily introduced or withdrawn. The stirrup-leathers are short, the rider's knees being much bent.

2. (Machinery.) A band or strap which is bent around one object and is secured to another by its tangs or branches.

3. The iron loop or clevis by which the mill-saw is suspended from the muley-head, or in the sash. A sawbuckle. The example (Fig. 5823) shows two forms. The saw-blade may be held by a cotter or key which passes through a hole in the saw and above the bar from which it is suspended; or it may have cheekpieces riveted to it, which afford hold for clamping devices.

Stirrup.

4. (Carpentry.) a. A device for holding a rafterpost or strut to a tie. In wooden construction it consists of a wrought-iron loop secured by a through bolt to one piece and embracing the foot of the other. Fig. 5824 shows that employed for connecting a principal rafter and tie-beam. In iron framing the stirrup is usually wrought on the tie.

b. An iron strap to support a beam.

5. (Nautical.) A rope with an eye at the end for [2388] supporting a foot-rope below its yard.

Stirrups for mill-saws.

6. (Shipbuilding.) A plate which laps on each side of a vessel's deadwood at the stem or stern, and bolts through all.

Rafter-stirrup.

1877.

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Knight's Mechanical Encyclopedia
Knight, Ed.

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Stir′rup.

Knight's Mechanical Encyclopedia Knight, Ed.

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Table of Contents:

Stir′rup.

Knight's Mechanical Encyclopedia
Knight, Ed.