gird

¹ American  

[gurd] / gɜrd /

verb (used with object)

girded, girt, girding

1. to encircle or bind with a belt or band.

2. to surround; enclose; hem in.

3. to prepare (oneself ) for action.

   He girded himself for the trial ahead.

   Synonyms:

   strengthen, fortify, steel, brace

4. to provide, equip, or invest, as with power or strength.

---

gird ² American  

[gurd] / gɜrd /

verb (used without object)

1. to gibe; jeer (usually followed byat ).

---

verb (used with object)

1. to gibe or jeer at; taunt.

noun

1. a gibe.

gird ¹ British  

/ ɡɜːd /

verb

1. to jeer (at someone); mock

2. (tr) to strike (a blow at someone)

3. (intr) to move at high speed

---

noun

1. 1. a blow or stroke

   2. a taunt; gibe

2. a display of bad temper or anger (esp in the phrases in a gird; throw a gird )

gird ² British  

/ ɡɜːd /

verb

1. to put a belt, girdle, etc, around (the waist or hips)

2. to bind or secure with or as if with a belt

   to gird on one's armour

3. to surround; encircle

4. to prepare (oneself) for action (esp in the phrase gird ( up ) one's loins )

5. to endow with a rank, attribute, etc, esp knighthood

---

gird ³ British  

/ ɡɪrd /

noun

1. Also: girr.  a hoop, esp a child's hoop

---

Other Word Forms

• girdingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of gird¹

before 950; Middle English girden, Old English gyrdan; cognate with German gürten

Origin of gird²

1175–1225; Middle English gyrd a stroke, blow, hence a cutting remark, derivative of girden to strike, smite < ?

Example Sentences

As protests rekindle across Iran’s universities and an American fleet builds up offshore, Iranians are girding themselves for the chaos and violence that might unfold if the ruling regime is actually brought down.

From The Wall Street Journal

After about 25 minutes he clambered back aboard the ship, girding for another long voyage the rest of the way across the ocean.

From The Wall Street Journal

For Jones and his salvation army it's a day to gird the loins and fight back.

From BBC

The U.S. oil giant has cut $15 billion from its structural costs in recent years, girding its balance sheet for times of lower oil prices.

From The Wall Street Journal

Doing so would help investors gird against volatility that might follow.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• brace