girth Hear it!

girth definition

girth (gʉrt̸h)

noun

  1. a band put around the belly of a horse or other animal for holding a saddle, pack, etc.
  2. the circumference, as of a tree trunk or person's waist

Etymology: ME gerth < ON gjörth < base of gyrtha, to encircle, akin to OE gyrdan: see gird

transitive verb

  1. to girdle; encircle
  2. to fasten or bind with a girth

intransitive verb

to measure in girth

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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