Emily Dickinson Lexicon

SAD-DLE, n. [sad'l; Sax. sadel, sadl; D. zadel; G. sattel; Dan. and Sw. sadel; W. sadell; Ir. sadhall; Russ. sedlo or siedlo; from the root of sit, set, L. sedeo, sedile.]

1. A seat to be placed on a horse's back for the rider to sit on. Saddles are variously made, as the common saddle and the hunting saddle, and for females the side-saddle.
2. Among seamen, a cleat or block of wood nailed on the lower yard-arms to retain the studding sail-booms in their place. The name is given also to other circular pieces of wood; as, the saddle of the bowsprit. – Mar. Dict.