spread-eagle
See also: spread eagle and spreadeagle
English
Etymology
From splayed-eagle (in heraldry), splayed + eagle.
Adjective
spread-eagle (comparative more spread-eagle, superlative most spread-eagle)
- Lying with arms and legs outstretched and separated.
- (colloquial, humorous) Characterized by a pretentious, boastful, exaggerated style; bombastic.
- a spread-eagle orator
- a spread-eagle speech
Adverb
spread-eagle (comparative more spread-eagle, superlative most spread-eagle)
- With arms and legs extended and spread.
Verb
spread-eagle (third-person singular simple present spread-eagles, present participle spread-eagling, simple past and past participle spread-eagled)
- (transitive) To put into a spread-eagle position, with arms and legs extended and spread.
- (intransitive) To put one's body in a spread eagle.
Translations
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