/ stɪlt; NAmE / noun [ usually pl. ]
1.
one of a set of posts that support a building so that it is high above the ground or water
2.
one of two long pieces of wood that have a step on the side that you can stand on, so that you can walk above the ground :
a circus performer on stilts
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : of Germanic origin; related to Dutch stelt and German Stelze .