Old English sadol "seat for a rider," from Proto-Germanic *sathulaz (cognates: Old Norse söðull, Old Frisian sadel, Dutch zadel, zaal, German Sattel "saddle"), from PIE *sed- (1) "to sit" (cognates: Latin sedere "to sit," Old Church Slavonic sedlo "saddle;" see sedentary). Figurative phrase in the saddle "in an active position of management" is attested from 1650s. Saddle stitch (n.) was originally in bookbinding (1887).

Old English sadolian "to put a riding saddle on;" see saddle, n.. The meaning "to load with a burden" is first recorded 1690s. Related: Saddled; saddling.