# How did stilts get their name?

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-stilts-get-their-name/371134
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [September 1, 2006, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-stilts-get-their-name/371134 "2006-09-01T22:55:21Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![Danalan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@Danalan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danalan)
#### Post date: [September 1, 2006, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-stilts-get-their-name/371134/1 "2006-09-01T22:55:21Z")

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Well?

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### Author: ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)
#### Post date: [September 1, 2006, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-stilts-get-their-name/371134/2 "2006-09-01T23:05:13Z")

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“stilt Look up stilt at [Dictionary.com](http://Dictionary.com)  
c.1320, “a crutch,” from P.Gmc. \*steltijon (cf. M.L.G., M.Du. stelte “stilt,” O.H.G. stelza “plow handle, crutch”), from PIE \*stel- “to put, stand, place, cause to stand” (see stall (1)). Application to “wooden poles for walking across marshy ground, etc.” is from c.1440. Meaning “one of the posts on which a building is raised from the ground” is first attested 1697. Stilted in the fig. sense of “pompous, stuffy” is first recorded 1820.”

> **[stilt | Etymology, origin and meaning of stilt by etymonline](https://www.etymonline.com/word/stilt)**
>
> STILT Meaning: "a wooden crutch, prop used in walking," also "handle of a plow, an artificial leg." It is a common… See origin and meaning of stilt.

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### Author: ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)
#### Post date: [September 1, 2006, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-stilts-get-their-name/371134/3 "2006-09-01T23:06:03Z")

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[Because they have very long legs.](http://www.geocities.com/tgrey41/BlackneckedStilt15.jpg)

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### Author: ![Danalan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@Danalan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danalan)
#### Post date: [September 2, 2006, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-stilts-get-their-name/371134/4 "2006-09-02T00:35:09Z")

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Thank you, **Shagnasty**! An answer, and a new reference tool. Excellent.