Definition

1. Noun:

   • A seat for a rider on an animal or vehicle: A supportive structure, typically made of leather, placed on the back of a horse, bicycle, or similar for a person to sit on.
   • A low point between two higher points: A ridge or pass in a mountain range that dips between two peaks, resembling the shape of a riding saddle.
   • A cut of meat: A portion of meat, especially from lamb, mutton, or venison, that includes part of the backbone and both loins.
   • A supporting part or structure: An object or part shaped like a saddle, such as a piece of leather on a shoe or a part of a tool.

2. Verb:

   • To put a saddle on an animal: To fasten a saddle onto the back of a horse or similar animal in preparation for riding.
   • To burden someone with a task or responsibility: To impose a duty, obligation, or difficult situation on someone.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The cowboy adjusted his leather saddle before mounting the horse.
  • We hiked over the mountain saddle to reach the next valley.
  • For dinner, they roasted a saddle of lamb.
• Verb:
  • Please saddle the horses; we leave in ten minutes.
  • My boss saddled me with the entire project's paperwork.

Advanced Usage

• "In the saddle": In a position of control, authority, or active participation.
  • With the new CEO in the saddle, the company's strategy changed rapidly.
• "Saddle up": To prepare for a journey or task, originally by putting a saddle on a horse.
  • It's time to saddle up and get to work.

Variants and Related Words

• Saddler (noun): A person who makes, repairs, or sells saddles and other leather goods for horses.
• Saddlery (noun): The materials, tools, or workshop of a saddler; also, saddles and related equipment collectively.
• Unsaddle (verb): To remove a saddle from an animal.

Synonyms

• Noun (seat): Seat.
• Noun (ridge): Pass, col.
• Verb (to burden): Burden, encumber, load, lumber.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Saddle with: To burden someone or something with an unwanted responsibility or problem.
  • He was saddled with his brother's debts.

Related Idioms

• Put the saddle on the right/wrong horse: To correctly or incorrectly assign blame or credit.
  • By promoting her, the manager put the saddle on the right horse.

Noun

1. posterior part of the back of a domestic fowl
2. a seat for the rider of a bicycle
3. a piece of leather across the instep of a shoe
4. cut of meat (especially mutton or lamb) consisting of part of the backbone and both loins
5. a pass or ridge that slopes gently between two peaks (is shaped like a saddle)
6. a seat for the rider of a horse or camel

Verb

1. impose a task upon, assign a responsibility to
   • He charged her with cleaning up all the files over the weekend
2. load or burden; encumber
   • he saddled me with that heavy responsibility
3. put a saddle on
   • saddle the horses