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girth

[ gurth ]
/ gɜrθ /
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See synonyms for: girth / girthed / girthing on Thesaurus.com

noun
the measure around anything; circumference.
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.
something that encircles; a band or girdle.
verb (used with object)
to bind or fasten with a girth.
to girdle; encircle.
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Also girt.

Origin of girth

1300–50; Middle English girth, gerth<Old Norse gerth girdle; akin to gird1

OTHER WORDS FROM girth

un·der·girth, nounun·girthed, adjective

Words nearby girth

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use girth in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for girth

girth
/ (ɡɜːθ) /

noun
the distance around something; circumference
size or bulka man of great girth
a band around a horse's belly to keep the saddle in position
verb
(usually foll by up) to fasten a girth on (a horse)
(tr) to encircle or surround

Word Origin for girth

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
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