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gird

1
[ gurd ]
/ gɜrd /
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See synonyms for: gird / girt on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), gird·ed or girt, gird·ing.
to encircle or bind with a belt or band.
to surround; enclose; hem in.
to prepare (oneself) for action: He girded himself for the trial ahead.
to provide, equip, or invest, as with power or strength.
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Origin of gird

1
before 950; Middle English girden,Old English gyrdan; cognate with German gürten

OTHER WORDS FROM gird

gird·ing·ly, adverb

Other definitions for gird (2 of 2)

gird2
[ gurd ]
/ gɜrd /

verb (used without object)
to gibe; jeer (usually followed by at).
verb (used with object)
to gibe or jeer at; taunt.
noun
a gibe.

Origin of gird

2
1175–1225; Middle English gyrd a stroke, blow, hence a cutting remark, derivative of girden to strike, smite < ?

OTHER WORDS FROM gird

gird·ing·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use gird in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for gird (1 of 3)

gird1
/ (ɡɜːd) /

verb girds, girding, girded or girt (tr)
to put a belt, girdle, etc, around (the waist or hips)
to bind or secure with or as if with a beltto gird on one's armour
to surround; encircle
to prepare (oneself) for action (esp in the phrase gird (up) one's loins)
to endow with a rank, attribute, etc, esp knighthood

Word Origin for gird

Old English gyrdan, of Germanic origin; related to Old Norse gyrtha, Old High German gurten

British Dictionary definitions for gird (2 of 3)

gird2
/ (ɡɜːd) Northern English dialect /

verb
(when intr, foll by at) to jeer (at someone); mock
(tr) to strike (a blow at someone)
(intr) to move at high speed
noun
  1. a blow or stroke
  2. a taunt; gibe
a display of bad temper or anger (esp in the phrases in a gird; throw a gird)

Word Origin for gird

C13 girden to strike, cut, of unknown origin

British Dictionary definitions for gird (3 of 3)

gird3
/ (ɡɪrd) /

noun
Scot a hoop, esp a child's hoopAlso: girr

Word Origin for gird

a Scot variant of girth
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
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