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

If so, this method was improved on during the next half-century, for the rope is now attached to a surcingle.

From Project Gutenberg

She had risen and with both hands had laid hold upon the crosspiece of my main surcingle and was striving to drag me inside.

From Project Gutenberg

This was usually done on the circus saddle, although some of us could do it on the bareback horse with only a surcingle.

From Project Gutenberg

At breakfast the waiters strapped up each boarder with a stout surcingle.

From Project Gutenberg

Surcingle, sur′sing-gl, n. a girth or strap for holding a saddle on an animal's back: the girdle of a cassock.

From Project Gutenberg