Stilt

Stilt refers to either a long, slender leg or a supporting post raised above the ground, or to a group of wading birds, and can also describe buildings raised on such supports. In general usage, stilts are tall legs or posts that lift an object or body above the surface.

In birds, stilts are a group of long-legged waders in the family Recurvirostridae. The best-known forms are the black-winged stilt (Himantopus himantopus) and the pied stilt (Himantopus leucocephalus). Stilts have very long legs and thin, straight bills. They hunt in shallow water by wading and probing the mud for invertebrates. They favor wetlands, marshes, and riverbanks and often breed in colonies, laying shallow nests on bare ground.

As construction elements, stilts are vertical posts or trunks that elevate structures above the ground or water. Stilt houses and platforms are common in flood-prone or coastal regions, where buildings are raised on wooden or concrete supports to reduce flood risk, dampness, or pest intrusion. Stilts are also used for temporary or ceremonial purposes, such as stages or for performers who walk on stilts as entertainment.

In human culture, stilts appear in various forms of festival and performance and as practical architectural solutions in areas with high moisture or flooding. The term emphasizes elevation, whether for locomotion, habitation, or display, and both natural and built environments use stilts to manage space, moisture, and access.