spreadeagle

Spread eagle, also spelled spread-eagle or spreadeagle, is a descriptive term for a position in which a person lies or stands with the limbs extended away from the body, typically with arms and legs spread to the sides. The name evokes the outline of an eagle with wings outstretched and is used across several domains to describe this broad, open posture.

In performance and sport, spread eagle refers to a recognizable pose or maneuver. In figure skating, a spread eagle is a basic gliding position in which the skater's body faces sideways while the legs are spread and the arms extend to the sides. Similar forms appear in diving and gymnastics as poses that emphasize balance and line. The spread eagle may also describe a wide-legged stance in other athletic or artistic contexts.

In law enforcement and safety contexts, the term describes a restraint position in which a suspect's arms and legs are spread and restrained to limit movement, sometimes known as a prone spread-eagle position. It is used descriptively but can raise safety concerns if not properly supervised.

Variants of the term include spread eagle and spreadeagle, with or without a hyphen. The term is generally considered informal and is not a medical or technical term in most fields.