girth

[ gurth ]
See synonyms for: girthgirthedgirthing on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. the measure around anything; circumference.

  2. a band that passes underneath a horse or other animal to hold a saddle in place, especially one having a buckle at each end for fastening to straps running from under the flaps of the saddle.

  1. something that encircles; a band or girdle.

verb (used with object)
  1. to bind or fasten with a girth.

  2. to girdle; encircle.

Origin of girth

1
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English girth, gerth, from Old Norse gerth “girdle”; akin to gird1

Other words from girth

  • un·der·girth, noun
  • un·girthed, adjective

Words Nearby girth

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use girth in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for girth

girth

/ (ɡɜːθ) /


noun
  1. the distance around something; circumference

  2. size or bulk: a man of great girth

  1. a band around a horse's belly to keep the saddle in position

verb
  1. (usually foll by up) to fasten a girth on (a horse)

  2. (tr) to encircle or surround

Origin of girth

1
C14: from Old Norse gjörth belt; related to Gothic gairda girdle 1; see gird 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012