girth

American  

[gurth] / gɜrθ /

noun

• girths
  plural

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.

3. something that encircles; a band or girdle.

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verb (used with object)

1. to bind or fasten with a girth.

2. to girdle; encircle.

girth British  

/ ɡɜːθ /

noun

1. the distance around something; circumference

2. size or bulk

   a man of great girth

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

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verb

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

2. (tr) to encircle or surround

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• undergirth
  noun
• ungirthed
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• girths
  plural

Etymology

Origin of girth

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

Explanation

The girth of something is the distance around its middle, and it usually refers to a person’s waist. If you get pregnant with twins, your girth will probably block your view of your toes. One can measure the girth of an airplane, tree trunk, or anything cylindrical, but it most often describes a large human waist. We don't usually describe a rail-thin person as having 'minuscule girth," — but when Aunt Velma has her seventh helping of lasagna and has to unbuckle her belt, she might announce, "My girth has outsized my attire!" Girth can also mean a strap that encircles the belly of a horse, mule, or other animal to secure a load.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

girth girths

Yet he seems to have developed this superiority as much through charisma and kindness as from sheer girth.

From Salon ● May 27, 2024

I have quite a few memories of playing around its roots and marveling at its girth.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 7, 2024

He had the thrilling job of measuring the first shark’s length and girth.

From Scientific American ● Oct. 18, 2023

At the time, he had a spritely step and a slimmer girth.

From Reuters ● Mar. 30, 2023

Opal shrank back in the doorway, and Oswald the miller filled it up with his huge girth.

From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff

There’s a lot of hedging going on, though the science is real, the photography spectacular and the girths of the subjects prompt impolite questions: Are you pregnant?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026

Richardson is a perfect example of the extent to which the sheer girths of owners’ egos are eclipsing what should be the NFL’s true narrative: the game.

From Washington Post ● Dec. 18, 2017

How to reconcile a lifestyle founded on getting fat and a need to convince others not to widen their own girths?

From Scientific American ● May 8, 2012

No matter who tightens the saddle girths, the horses keep on winning.

From Time Magazine Archive

Already the companies were preparing to start: men were tightening girths, looking to saddles, caressing their horses; some gazed uneasily at the lowering sky.

From "The Return of the King" by J.R.R. Tolkien

Related Words

• circumference