I. ə-ˈstrīd adverb
Date: 1610
1. : with one leg on each side : astride a horse
she rode astride , not sidesaddle
2. : with the legs stretched wide apart
standing astride
II. preposition
Date: 1653
1. : on or above and with one leg on each side of
astride a horse
2. : placed or lying on both sides of
towns lying astride a river
3. : extending over or across : spanning, bridging