surcingle

[sur-sing-guhl]

noun

1. a belt or girth that passes around the belly of a horse and over the blanket, pack, saddle, etc., and is buckled on the horse's back.

2. a beltlike fastening for a garment, especially a cassock.

surcingle

/ ˈsɜːˌsɪŋɡəl /

noun

1. a girth for a horse which goes around the body, used esp with a racing saddle

2. the belt worn with a cassock

verb

1. to put a surcingle on or over (a horse)

Word History and Origins

Origin of surcingle¹

1350–1400; Middle English surcengle < Middle French, equivalent to sur- sur- ¹ + cengle belt < Latin cingulum; cingulum

Word History and Origins

Origin of surcingle¹

C14: from Old French surcengle, from sur- over + cengle a belt, from Latin cingulum

Example Sentences

The ordinary English trainer thinks that a good mouth may be made in two weeks, by strapping a colt's reins to his surcingle for an hour or two daily, and by longeing with a cavesson.

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The saddle was "old and crooked, with a short deep blue saddle cloth flowered, with buff cloth at the edge, buckskin seat, the cloth most below the skirt of the saddle at the side, double skirts, crupper, surcingle, and breast straps, double belted steel bridle and plated stirrup."

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I wanted to get hold of his halter, but every time I went near him he whisked round and flung up his heels, till I managed to cut the ragged surcingle and set him free, when I caught him in deep snow, in which my horse was very unwilling to risk himself.

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A broad surcingle of woollen webbing keeps the whole in place.

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Surcingle, sur′sing-gl, n. a girth or strap for holding a saddle on an animal's back: the girdle of a cassock.—v.t. to surround with such.

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