spread-eagle

See also: spread eagle and spreadeagle

English

Etymology

From splayed-eagle (in heraldry), splayed + eagle.

Pronunciation

• Audio (US):

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Adjective

spread-eagle (comparative more spread-eagle, superlative most spread-eagle)

1. Lying with arms and legs outstretched and separated.
2. (colloquial, humorous) Characterized by a pretentious, boastful, exaggerated style; bombastic.

   a spread-eagle orator

   a spread-eagle speech

Derived terms

• spreadeagleism

Verb

spread-eagle (third-person singular simple present spread-eagles, present participle spread-eagling, simple past and past participle spread-eagled)

1. (transitive) To put into a spread-eagle position, with arms and legs extended and spread.
2. (intransitive) To put one's body in a spread eagle.

Translations

Lying with arms and legs outstretched and separated

Maori: whakaineine, tīwhera