What does stridling mean?
Stridling means astride or with the legs apart. It is a relatively uncommon English word used chiefly to describe someone positioned with one leg on either side of an object, such as a fence, rail, horse, or another person. For example, a rider might be described as sitting stridling the fence, while a child could be stridling on a parent's shoulders. Although the form resembles the present participle of stride, its usual meaning is positional: it focuses on how someone's legs are placed rather than on the act of walking with long steps. Stridling can function as an adjective, as in “the stridling rider,” or as an adverb, as in “he sat stridling on the gate.” The word is useful in precise descriptive writing because it concisely captures a particular posture that is otherwise usually expressed through the phrase “with one leg on either side.” It appears in both British and American English, although it is much less common in contemporary prose than the simpler and more familiar astride.
Describing a position in which one is astride something or has the legs apart.
"The rider remained stridling the fence while the others waited."
The word is uncommon and commonly has a literary or traditional tone.
With the legs apart; astride.
"The child sat stridling on his father's shoulders."
It usually describes a stable position taken astride or across something.
Legs apart, one on either side—that is stridling in a single word.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Words that share this root
How stridling is actually used
The word is uncommon in modern English and sounds literary or traditional. Its established meaning concerns a position with the legs apart, rather than the act of taking long steps.
Easily confused with stridling
Stridling describes a position with the legs apart, whereas striding describes the act of walking with long, decisive steps.