Definition of STILT

stilt

Plural: stilts

Noun

  • 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
  • long-legged three-toed black-and-white wading bird of inland ponds and marshes or brackish lagoons
  • Either of two poles with footrests that allow someone to stand or walk above the ground; used mostly by entertainers.
  • A tall pillar or post used to support some structure; often above water.
  • Any of various wading birds of the genera Himantopus and Cladorhynchus, related to the avocet, that have extremely long legs and long thin bills.
  • A crutch.
  • The handle of a plough.

Verb

Verb Forms: stilted, stilting, stilts

  • To raise something on or as if on stilts.
  • to raise on stilts, or as if on stilts
  • to apply unnecessary pomp or formality

Examples

  • He tried to STILT his score by placing a high-value letter on a bonus square.

Origin / Etymology

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.

Synonyms

Australian stilt, Himantopus stilt, long-legs, longlegs, pile, piling, spile, stilt plover, stiltbird

Scrabble Score: 5

stilt: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
stilt: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
stilt: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 6

stilt: valid Words With Friends Word