stilt

n. [ OE. stilte; akin to Dan. stylte, Sw. stylta, LG. & D. stelt, OHG. stelza, G. stelze, and perh. to E. stout. ] 1. A pole, or piece of wood, constructed with a step or loop to raise the foot above the ground in walking. It is sometimes lashed to the leg, and sometimes prolonged upward so as to be steadied by the hand or arm. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ambition is but avarice on stilts, and masked. Landor. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A crutch; also, the handle of a plow. [ Prov. Eng. ] Halliwell. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Zool.) Any species of limicoline birds belonging to Himantopus and allied genera, in which the legs are remarkably long and slender. Called also longshanks, stiltbird, stilt plover, and lawyer. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The American species (Himantopus Mexicanus) is well known. The European and Asiatic stilt (Himantopus candidus) is usually white, except the wings and interscapulars, which are greenish black. The white-headed stilt (Himantopus leucocephalus) and the banded stilt (Cladorhynchus pectoralis) are found in Australia. [ 1913 Webster ]

Stilt plover (Zool.), the stilt. --
Stilt sandpiper (Zool.), an American sandpiper (Micropalama himantopus) having long legs. The bill is somewhat expanded at the tip. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) See Stilt, n., 3. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Elevated as if on stilts; hence, pompous; bombastic; as, a stilted style; stilted declamation. [ 1913 Webster ]

Stilted arch (Arch.), an arch in which the springing line is some distance above the impost, the space between being occupied by a vertical member, molded or ornamented, as a continuation of the archivolt, intrados, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Stilt + -fy. ] To raise upon stilts, or as upon stilts; to stilt. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ or }, n. A peculiarly flavored unpressed cheese made from milk with cream added; -- so called from the village or parish of Stilton, England, where it was originally made. It is very rich in fat.

Thus, in the outset he was gastronomic; discussed the dinner from the soup to the stilton. C. Lever. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]