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spread eagle

spread eagle

8.3
A figure skating move with skates heel to heel and legs turned outward
  • noun
  • Jargon
translation icon : eagle extendida
  • During her performance, she included a stunning spread eagle that highlighted her skill.

Examples

  • The skater executed a flawless spread eagle in front of the cheering crowd.

  • They're very close going into the first aerial, and that's a beautiful spread eagle by Beth.

  • She did the spread eagle every time she skated.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • She was queen of the ice, and after we saw her, we practiced our spread eagles and our salchows.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • After perfecting the spread eagle, he gained the judges' praise for his technique.

Synonyms

spread-eagle jump
vsspread eagle
  • Specialized
7.5

A jump with arms and legs stretched out to the sides like an eagle

is performed on the ice with feet heel to heel rather than airborne

Surface Forms

spread eagle singular
spread eagles plural

Morphology

spread + eagle

The noun meaning is directly compositional: a 'spread eagle' denotes an eagle that is spread out (wings and legs extended), which can be derived from knowing 'spread' and 'eagle'. This literal, image-based composition follows regular descriptive patterns and is likely understandable to a B1 learner familiar with both words.

Etymology

Spread eagle. The noun spread eagle for a skating move comes from the picture of an eagle with wings spread. A skater makes the same wide shape with their legs and body on the ice, so the name means that move.