1.  stilt(n = noun.artifact) pile, piling, spile - a column of wood or steel or concrete that is driven into the ground to provide support for a structure;
is a kind of column, pillar
has particulars: sheath pile, sheet pile, sheet piling

2.  stilt(n = noun.artifact) - one of two stout poles with foot rests in the middle; used for walking high above the ground; "he was so tall I thought he was on stilts"
is a kind of pole

3.  stilt(n = noun.animal) australian stilt - long-legged three-toed wading bird of brackish marshes of Australia;
is a kind of limicoline bird, shore bird, shorebird
is a member of cladorhyncus, genus cladorhyncus
has particulars: banded stilt, cladorhyncus leucocephalum

4.  stilt(n = noun.animal) himantopus stilt, long-legs, longlegs, stilt plover, stiltbird - long-legged three-toed black-and-white wading bird of inland ponds and marshes or brackish lagoons;
is a kind of limicoline bird, shore bird, shorebird
is a member of genus himantopus, himantopus
has particulars: black-necked stilt, himantopus mexicanus, black-winged stilt, himantopus himantopus, himantopus himantopus leucocephalus, white-headed stilt, himantopus novae-zelandiae, kaki

1.  A pole, or piece of wood, constructed with a step or loop to raise the foot above the ground in walking. It is sometimes lashed to the leg, and sometimes prolonged upward so as to be steadied by the hand or arm. [1913 Webster]
"Ambition is but avarice on stilts, and masked." [1913 Webster]

2.  A crutch; also, the handle of a plow. Halliwell. [1913 Webster]

3.  Any species of limicoline birds belonging to Himantopus and allied genera, in which the legs are remarkably long and slender. Called also longshanks, stiltbird, stilt plover, and lawyer. [1913 Webster]
" The American species (Himantopus Mexicanus) is well known. The European and Asiatic stilt (H. candidus) is usually white, except the wings and interscapulars, which are greenish black. The white-headed stilt (H. leucocephalus) and the banded stilt (Cladorhynchus pectoralis) are found in Australia." [1913 Webster]

   To raise on stilts, or as if on stilts. [1913 Webster]

stilt, n.
1 either of a pair of poles with supports for the feet enabling the user to walk at a distance above the ground.
2 each of a set of piles or posts supporting a building etc.
3 a any wading bird of the genus Himantopus with long legs. b (in comb.) denoting a long-legged kind of bird (stilt-petrel).
4 a three-legged support for ceramic ware in a kiln.

Idiom:
on stilts 1 supported by stilts.
2 bombastic, stilted.

Derivative:
stiltless adj.

Etymology:
ME & LG stilte f. Gmc

australian stilt, banded stilt, black-necked stilt, black-winged stilt, himantopus stilt, stilt plover, white-headed stilt