a-straddle
Sitting or standing with one leg on each side of something.
Also called astraddle, astride.
Updated September 21, 2026
a-straddle pronunciation
/uh-STRAD-uhl/
Meaning
Means you are perched across something — a rail, a log, a fence, a horse — with a leg hanging on each side. Same idea as astride. In mountain talk it shows up a lot in stories about riding, climbing, or getting stuck halfway over a thing.
How folks use it
- “That boy was a-straddle of the fence when the dog ran up.”
- “She sat a-straddle of the log and waited for the creek to settle.”
Origin and etymology
English has long used astraddle (and astride) for this pose. Southern Appalachian speech keeps the a- spelling in everyday talk. Joseph Hall's Smoky Mountain notes include a honeymoon that was "a-straddle of a rail," and Foxfire later has a wagon sitting "astraddle" on a barn corner. The a- fits the same old on/an family as other mountain a- words.
Frequently asked questions
Is a-straddle the same as astride?
Pretty much. Both mean one leg on each side. A-straddle is the form you hear more in Appalachian storytelling.