lever vs stirrup

lever

noun
  • A levee. 

  • A bar, as a capstan bar, applied to a rotatory piece to turn it. 

  • An arm on a rock shaft, to give motion to the shaft or to obtain motion from it. 

  • A rigid piece which is capable of turning about one point, or axis (the fulcrum), and in which are two or more other points where forces are applied; — used for transmitting and modifying force and motion. 

  • A small such piece to trigger or control a mechanical device (like a button). 

  • Specifically, a bar of metal, wood or other rigid substance, used to exert a pressure, or sustain a weight, at one point of its length, by receiving a force or power at a second, and turning at a third on a fixed point called a fulcrum. It is usually named as the first of the six mechanical powers, and is of three kinds, according as either the fulcrum F, the weight W, or the power P, respectively, is situated between the other two, as in the figures. 

verb
  • To use, operate or move (something) like a lever (physically). 

  • To move with a lever. 

  • To increase the share of debt in the capitalization of a business. 

  • To use (something) like a lever (in an abstract sense). 

stirrup

noun
  • A stapes. 

  • Any piece shaped like the stirrup of a saddle, used as a support, clamp, etc. 

  • A portable, flexible ladder-like device used in climbing. 

  • A rope secured to a yard, with a thimble in its lower end for supporting a footrope. 

  • A ring or hoop suspended by a rope or strap from the saddle, for a horseman's foot while mounting or riding. 

adj
  • Referring to women's pants/trousers: being of a form, commonly worn by women, that includes a strap beneath the arch of the foot. 

How often have the words lever and stirrup occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )