v. & n.
v. 1 tr. a sit or stand across (a thing) with the legs wide apart. b be situated across or on both sides of (the town straddles the border). 2 intr. a sit or stand in this way. b (of the legs) be wide apart. 3 tr. part (one's legs) widely. 4 tr. drop shots or bombs short of and beyond (a target). 5 tr. vacillate between two policies etc. regarding (an issue).
n. 1 the act or an instance of straddling. 2 Stock Exch. an option giving the holder the right of either calling for or delivering stock at a fixed price. straddler n.
[ alt. of striddle, back-form. f. striddlings astride f. strid- = STRIDE ]