a girthed usu. padded and leather-covered seat for the rider of an animal (as a horse) (2): a part of a driving harness comparable to a saddle that is used to keep the breeching in place b: a seat to be straddled by the rider of a vehicle (as a bicycle) 2: a device mounted as a support and often shaped to fit the object held 3 a: a ridge connecting two higher elevations b: a pass in a mountain range 4 a: both sides of the unsplit back of a carcass including both loins b: a colored marking on the back of an animal c: the rear part of a male fowl's back extending to the tail--see duck illustration 5: the central part of the backbone of the binding of a book 6: a piece of leather across the instep of a shoe -- sad.dle.less adj -- in the saddle : in control |