A loop or ring that hangs from a horse saddle, used to support a rider's foot and help them mount and ride safely.
From Old English 'stigrāp' (stīgan 'to climb' + rāp 'rope'). Originally meant 'climbing rope,' then evolved to describe the modern rigid loop.
The stirrup was one of history's most underrated inventions—it transformed warfare because riders could now stand up and swing weapons without falling off, which revolutionized medieval combat!
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