[W/K] :: Hurdle

  Hurdle \Hur"dle\, n. [OE. hurdel, hirdel, AS. hyrdel; akin to D.
     horde, OHG. hurt, G. h["u]rde a hurdle, fold, pen, Icel. hur?
     door, Goth. ha['u]rds, L. cratis wickerwork, hurdle, Gr. ?,
     Skr. k?t to spin, c?t to bind, connect. [root]16. Cf.
     Crate, Grate, n.]
     1. A movable frame of wattled twigs, osiers, or withes and
        stakes, or sometimes of iron, used for inclosing land, for
        folding sheep and cattle, for gates, etc.; also, in
        fortification, used as revetments, and for other purposes.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. In England, a sled or crate on which criminals were
        formerly drawn to the place of execution. --Bacon.
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     3. An artificial barrier, variously constructed, over which
        men or horses leap in a race.
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     Hurdle race, a race in which artificial barriers in the
        form of hurdles, fences, etc., must be leaped.
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  Hurdle \Hur"dle\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Hurdleed; p. pr. & vb.
     n. Hurdleing.]
     To hedge, cover, make, or inclose with hurdles. --Milton.
     [1913 Webster]

  hurdle
       n 1: a light movable barrier that competitors must leap over in
            certain races
       2: an obstacle that you are expected to overcome; "the last
          hurdle before graduation"
       3: the act of jumping over an obstacle [syn: vault]
       v : jump a hurdle

  99 Moby Thesaurus words for "hurdle":
     Highland fling, and jump, bar, barrier, block, blockade,
     bottleneck, bounce, bound, broad jump, buck, buckjump, capriole,
     catch, check, clear, complication, conquer, cordon, curtain,
     curvet, demivolt, determent, deterrent, difficulty, down, drawback,
     flying jump, galliard, gelandesprung, grand jete, hamper, handicap,
     handspring, hang-up, hazard, high jump, hindrance, hippety-hop,
     hitch, hop, impediment, interference, jete, jig, joker, jump,
     jump over, jump shot, jump turn, jump-hop, jump-off, lavolta, leap,
     leap over, leapfrog, lick, long jump, lop, master, morris,
     mountain, negotiate, objection, obstacle, obstruction, obstructive,
     one small difficulty, over, overjump, overleap, overskip,
     pole vault, pounce, pounce on, pounce upon, restraint, rub,
     running broad jump, running high jump, saut de basque, ski jump,
     skip, snag, spring, start, start aside, start up, steeplechase,
     stumbling block, stumbling stone, surmount, throw, tour jete,
     traverse, updive, upleap, upspring, vault
  
  

  HURDLE, Eng. law. A species of sledge, used to draw traitors to execution.