Saddles

Part of speech: noun, verb

Definitions

1. A support seat fastened on the back of a horse or bicycle for riding ; to place a saddle onto an animal's back ; to impose a responsibility or burden on someone or something
2. The item fixed on a horse or bike to provide a seat ; the act of fitting a saddle on an animal ; to assign a difficult task or load to a person or group
3. A structure strapped to an animal for riding comfort and stability ; the process of equipping a creature with a saddle ; to load or charge someone with a duty or obligation

Etymology: "Saddles" is the third-person singular present form of the verb "saddle," so its story is really the story of the verb and the noun it grew from. The noun goes back to Old English "sadol," which descends from a Proto-Germanic word "sadulaz" shared with Dutch "zadel," German "Sattel," and Swedish "sadel." Its deeper origin is uncertain, though one proposal links it to a root meaning "to sit," which would make the saddle, quite literally, a seat. The verb came later into the picture. Middle English "sadelen" was built from the noun, so "to saddle" originally meant putting a saddle on an animal. The figurative sense of loading someone with a burden developed from that physical act, which is why the verb now covers both strapping leather onto a horse and handing a person an unwelcome responsibility.

Synonyms: harnesses, bridles, gear, tack, equipment