saddle
    n 1: a seat for the rider of a horse or camel
    2: a pass or ridge that slopes gently between two peaks (is
       shaped like a saddle) [syn: saddleback, saddle]
    3: cut of meat (especially mutton or lamb) consisting of part of
       the backbone and both loins
    4: a piece of leather across the instep of a shoe
    5: a seat for the rider of a bicycle [syn: bicycle seat,
       saddle]
    6: posterior part of the back of a domestic fowl
    v 1: put a saddle on; "saddle the horses" [ant: offsaddle,
         unsaddle]
    2: load or burden; encumber; "he saddled me with that heavy
       responsibility"
    3: impose a task upon, assign a responsibility to; "He charged
       her with cleaning up all the files over the weekend" [syn:
       charge, saddle, burden]

Saddle \Sad"dle\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Saddled; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Saddling.] [AS. sadelian.]
   1. To put a saddle upon; to equip (a beast) for riding.
      "saddle my horse." --Shak.
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            Abraham rose up early, . . . and saddled his ass.
                                                  --Gen. xxii.
                                                  3.
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   2. Hence: To fix as a charge or burden upon; to load; to
      encumber; as, to saddle a town with the expense of bridges
      and highways.
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Saddle \Sad"dle\, n. [OE. sadel, AS. sadol; akin to D. zadel, G.
   sattel, OHG. satal, satul, Icel. s["o][eth]ull, Dan. & Sw.
   sadel; cf. Russ. siedlo; all perh. ultimately from the root
   of E. sit.]
   1. A seat for a rider, -- usually made of leather, padded to
      span comfortably a horse's back, furnished with stirrups
      for the rider's feet to rest in, and fastened in place
      with a girth; also, a seat for the rider on a bicycle or
      tricycle.
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   2. A padded part of a harness which is worn on a horse's
      back, being fastened in place with a girth. It serves
      various purposes, as to keep the breeching in place, carry
      guides for the reins, etc.
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   3. A piece of meat containing a part of the backbone of an
      animal with the ribs on each side; as, a saddle of mutton,
      of venison, etc.
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   4. (Naut.) A block of wood, usually fastened to some spar,
      and shaped to receive the end of another spar.
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   5. (Mach.) A part, as a flange, which is hollowed out to fit
      upon a convex surface and serve as a means of attachment
      or support.
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   6. (Zool.) The clitellus of an earthworm.
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   7. (Arch.) The threshold of a door, when a separate piece
      from the floor or landing; -- so called because it spans
      and covers the joint between two floors.
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   8. (Phys. Geog.) A ridge connected two higher elevations; a
      low point in the crest line of a ridge; a col.
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   9. (Mining) A formation of gold-bearing quartz occurring
      along the crest of an anticlinal fold, esp. in Australia.
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   Saddle bar (Arch.), one the small iron bars to which the
      lead panels of a glazed window are secured. --Oxf. Gloss.

   Saddle gall (Far.), a sore or gall upon a horse's back,
      made by the saddle.

   Saddle girth, a band passing round the body of a horse to
      hold the saddle in its place.

   saddle horse, a horse suitable or trained for riding with a
      saddle.

   Saddle joint, in sheet-metal roofing, a joint formed by
      bending up the edge of a sheet and folding it downward
      over the turned-up edge of the next sheet.

   Saddle roof, (Arch.), a roof having two gables and one
      ridge; -- said of such a roof when used in places where a
      different form is more common; as, a tower surmounted by a
      saddle roof. Called also saddleback roof.

   Saddle shell (Zool.), any thin plicated bivalve shell of
      the genera Placuna and Anomia; -- so called from its
      shape. Called also saddle oyster.
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