n. & v.
n. 1 Athletics a each of a series of light frames to be cleared by athletes in a race. b (in pl.) a hurdle-race. 2 an obstacle or difficulty. 3 a portable rectangular frame strengthened with withes or wooden bars, used as a temporary fence etc. 4 hist. a frame on which traitors were dragged to execution.
v. 1 Athletics a intr. run in a hurdle-race. b tr. clear (a hurdle). 2 tr. fence off etc. with hurdles. 3 tr. overcome (a difficulty).
[ OE hyrdel f. Gmc ]