Now somewhat rare.
1. The metal portion of a stirrup, the stirrup proper (in the modern sense) as distinguished from the strap supporting it.
1474. Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot., I. 36. j quarter of blew vellus to couir the Qwenis stirrap irnis, price xvs. Ibid. (1533), VI. 88. For spurris, brydill bittis, sterap irnis, girth buklis.
1683. Lond. Gaz., No. 1810/4. New Stirrop-Leathers, old Stirrop-Irons.
1782. Phil. Trans., LXXII. 371. One of the stirrup-irons … exhibits some appearances of fusion on the arch through which the stirrup-leather passes.
1853. R. S. Surtees, Sponge’s Sp. Tour (1893), 318. As he dangled his spurs against his stirrup-irons.
1875. Whyte-Melville, Riding Recoll., xii. (1879), 209. Stick to him religiously till the welcome heather is brushing your stirrup-irons once more.
2. An iron strip to hold the end of a beam or girder.
1838. Civil Engin. & Arch. Jrnl., I. 178/2. The parts of the vertical timbers above the roadway are … secured by stirrup-irons, bolts, and wedges, to the main ribs.
