Stilt \Stilt\, n. [OE. stilte; akin to Dan. stylte, Sw. stylta,
LG. & D. stelt, OHG. stelza, G. stelze, and perh. to E.
stout.]
1. A pole, or piece of wood, constructed with a step or loop
to raise the foot above the ground in walking. It is
sometimes lashed to the leg, and sometimes prolonged
upward so as to be steadied by the hand or arm.
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Ambition is but avarice on stilts, and masked.
--Landor.
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2. A crutch; also, the handle of a plow. [Prov. Eng.]
--Halliwell.
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3. (Zool.) Any species of limicoline birds belonging to
Himantopus and allied genera, in which the legs are
remarkably long and slender. Called also longshanks,
stiltbird, stilt plover, and lawyer.
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Note: The American species (Himantopus Mexicanus) is well
known. The European and Asiatic stilt (Himantopus
candidus) is usually white, except the wings and
interscapulars, which are greenish black. The
white-headed stilt (Himantopus leucocephalus) and the
banded stilt (Cladorhynchus pectoralis) are found in
Australia.
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Stilt plover (Zool.), the stilt.
Stilt sandpiper (Zool.), an American sandpiper
(Micropalama himantopus) having long legs. The bill is
somewhat expanded at the tip.
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Source: The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
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