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to get or be astride of; have or place the legs on both sides of.
to step over or across with long strides.
to stand or tower over; dominate.
Historical Examples

In the midst a dark and lazy current, which a tall man might bestride, crept twisting like a snake among the weeds and rushes.
La Salle and the Discovery of the Great West Francis Parkman

Sheer audacity is at times the surest steed a man can bestride.
To Have and To Hold Mary Johnston

To most of us, to borrow from Shakespeare, he seems to bestride this narrow world like a Colossus.
The Real Gladstone J. Ewing Ritchie

After the death of his master no one was permitted to bestride that good horse.
The History of Chivalry, Volume II (of 2) Charles Mills

But there was one great man who was in both sections, a painter and a poet, who may be said to bestride the chasm like a giant.
The Victorian Age in Literature G. K. Chesterton

These lads are as lithe and lean as the ponies they bestride.
The Little Lady of Lagunitas Richard Henry Savage

To bestride is to stand over anything with one foot on each side.
The Story of Sigurd the Volsung William Morris

He seemed to bestride it as we could imagine Alexander bestriding his Bucephalus.
Here and There in London J. Ewing Ritchie

As for that, said Gareth, I shall not fail you an I may bestride mine horse.
Le Morte D’Arthur, Volume II (of II) Thomas Malory

“I shall not fail you if I can bestride my horse,” said Gareth.
Historic Tales, Vol 14 (of 15) Charles Morris

verb (transitive) -strides, -striding, -strode (archaic) -strid, -stridden, (archaic) -strid
to have or put a leg on either side of
to extend across; span
to stride over or across
v.

Old English bestridan “to bestride, mount,” from be- + stridan “to stride” (see stride). Cf. Middle Dutch bestryden.