The leather strap by which a stirrup hangs from the saddle.
139[?]. Earl Derby’s Exped. (Camden), 46. Pro j pare styrop., et styrop lethres, viij s. pr.
1394–5. Durham Acc. Rolls (Surtees), 599. In 2 par. de Stirhaplethirs et 1 pari de Stiraps, 18d.
1470. York Memo. Bk. (Surtees), I. 92. to make stirrop lethyrs of blak barked lethir.
1591. Greene, Conny Catching, II. Wks. (Grosart), X. 77. Stirhops and stirhop leathers, so quaintly and artificially made that it may bee put in the slop of a mans hose.
1620. Shelton, 2nd Pt. Quix., xiv. 87. So he ran after his Master, laying hold vpon one of Rozinantes stirrup leathers.
1701. Lond. Gaz., No. 3717/4. He had on a plain Leathern Saddle with new Stirrup-Leathers.
1890. ‘R. Boldrewood,’ Col. Reformer, xvi. The length of the stirrup-leathers conveyed … the fact that the rider … was an individual of unusual length of limb.
1895. Sir H. Maxwell, Duke of Britain, xii. 171. Numidian lancers … riding with very short stirrup-leathers after the African custom.
attrib. 1653. Urquhart, Rabelais, I. xxxv. He most nimbly … shifting his feet in the stirrup, performed the stirrup leather feat.
b. As an instrument for flogging.
1611. Cotgr., Stafilade, a lash, or thwacke with a stirrup-leather.
1652. J. Wright, trans. Camus’ Nat. Paradox, IX. 226. The Souldiers … laced their shoulders so well with their stirrop-leathers, that they made them swim in their own blood.
1726. N. Blundell, Diary (1895), 221. I had seaven Lads of this Town beaton at my Gate-Hous with a Sterrop-Leather.
1831. Scott, Cast. Dang., xii. Flagellation with belts, stirrup-leathers, or surcingles.
