I. ˈgər]d, ˈgə̄], ˈgəi] verb
( girded ]də̇d ; also girt ]t, usu ]d.+V ; girded also girt ; girding ; girds )
Etymology: Middle English girden, from Old English gyrdan; akin to Old High German gurten to gird, Old Norse gyrtha to gird, Old English geard yard — more at yard
transitive verb
1.
a. : to encircle or bind with any flexible band (as a belt)
the waist is girded by a purple … sash — New Yorker
b. : to make fast or secure (as a sword by a belt or clothing with a cord) : girdle
c. : surround , encircle
no castellated ramparts gird Madrid — E.O.Hauser
girded round by an open porch — A.W.Turnbull
d. chiefly Scotland : to put a rim or hoop on (a barrel or cask)
2.
a. : provide , equip
girded himself with an amulet … and a short stabbing spear — Charles Beadle
especially : to invest with the sword of knighthood
the marshal girded him, kissed him, “and so he was a knight” — R.W.Southern
b. : to invest with powers or attributes
thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle — Ps 18:39 (Authorized Version)
hast girded me with gladness — Ps 30:11 (Authorized Version)
3. : to prepare (oneself) for a struggle, test of strength, or other action : brace
the men girded themselves for the coming final blow
the reader girds himself for yet another disappointment — Charles Lee
intransitive verb
: to prepare for a struggle, test of strength, or other action
he girded for a rough fight — John Kobler
girding to repulse a new challenge to his powers — New York Times
Synonyms: see surround
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- gird one's loins
II. “, dial Brit “ or ˈgird verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English girden, gurden to strike, move rapidly, thrust
transitive verb
1. dialect Britain : strike , smite
2. : to sneer at : mock , gibe
the British public has never ceased girding him — Augustine Birrell
intransitive verb
1. dialect Britain : to move or act quickly or energetically : rush
2. : gibe , jest , rail — usually used with at
girds at your preoccupation … with bodily games — A.T.Quiller-Couch
I shall not gird at realism — W.T.Stace
girding at the wrongheadedness of … officials — Times Literary Supplement
Synonyms: see scoff
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English (Scots), stroke, blow, from Middle English girden, gurden to strike
: a sarcastic remark : gibe , sneer , dig
trenchant girds inspired by strong and genuine feeling against the modern changes — Times Literary Supplement
IV. ˈgir(d) noun
( -s )
Etymology: alteration of obsolete girth hoop for a barrel or tub, from Middle English girth hoop for a barrel or tub, strap round the body of an animal to fasten something on its back — more at girth
Scotland : a hoop especially for a barrel or tub ; also : a hoop used as a child's plaything