verb (used without object),strad·dled,strad·dling.
to walk, stand, or sit with the legs wide apart; stand or sit astride.
to stand wide apart, as the legs.
to favor or appear to favor both sides of an issue, political division, or the like, at once; maintain an equivocal position.
verb (used with object),strad·dled,strad·dling.
to walk, stand, or sit with one leg on each side of; stand or sit astride of: to straddle a horse.
to spread (the legs) wide apart.
to favor or appear to favor both sides of (an issue, political division, etc.).
noun
an act or instance of straddling.
the distance straddled over.
the taking of a noncommittal position.
Finance.
an option consisting of a put and a call combined, both at the same current market price and for the same specified period.
a similar transaction in securities or futures in which options to buy and sell the same security or commodity are purchased simultaneously in order to hedge one's risk.
Origin of straddle
1555–65; apparently frequentative (with -le) of variant stem of stride
They're mostly girls who straddle the line between geeky and bad-ass, a look familiar to most of today's high-school students.
My $16 Videogame Striptease|Brian Ries|October 14, 2010|DAILY BEAST
In an Internet video announcing his candidacy, Brown attempted this straddle without mentioning Schwarzenegger by name.
Arnold's Third Term|Joe Mathews|March 5, 2010|DAILY BEAST
I'le make him think he's got straddle his wooly hoss, and an army of mermades was after him with red hot pitchforks.
Punchinello, Vol. 1, No. 22, August 27, 1870|Various
No. 2 then has the same option, and may, if he wish, increase the straddle by one penny.
Round Games with Cards|W. H. Peel
With an exclamation she tossed her book to the desk, where it sprawled at a straddle, and hurried to the rail.
Flappers and Philosophers|F. Scott Fitzgerald
He must straddle the mouth of the valley like the fat colossus he was.
Scattergood Baines|Clarence Budington Kelland
Dey wouldn' be caught wearin' britches an' ridin' straddle like de womens do dese days.
Slave Narratives: a Folk History of Slavery in the United States|Various
British Dictionary definitions for straddle
straddle
/ (ˈstrædəl) /
verb
(tr)to have one leg, part, or support on each side of
(tr)US and Canadianinformalto be in favour of both sides of (something)
(intr)to stand, walk, or sit with the legs apart
(tr)to spread (the legs) apart
militaryto fire a number of shots slightly beyond and slightly short of (a target) to determine the correct range
(intr)(in poker, of the second player after the dealer) to double the ante before looking at one's cards
noun
the act or position of straddling
a noncommittal attitude or stand
commercea contract or option permitting its purchaser to either sell or buy securities or commodities within a specified period of time at specified prices. It is a combination of a put and a call optionCompare spread (def. 24c)
athleticsa high-jumping technique in which the body is parallel with the bar and the legs straddle it at the highest point of the jump
(in poker) the stake put up after the ante in poker by the second player after the dealer
Irisha wooden frame placed on a horse's back to which panniers are attached
Derived forms of straddle
straddler, noun
Word Origin for straddle
C16: frequentative formed from obsolete strad- (Old English strode), past stem of stride