STIRRUP, in the manège, a rest or support for the horseman's foot, serving to keep him firm in his seat, and to enable him to mount.
Stirrups are allowed to be a modern invention: Menage observes, that St. Jerome is the first author who mentions them. Matthiolus relates, that the Turks have a knack of poisoning their stirrups, with so subtle and penetrating a poison, that it makes its way through the boots, and kills the rider. F. le Comte tells us, that the Tartars ride cross-legged, and with their stirrups exceedingly short.