surcingle

American  

[sur-sing-guhl] / ˈsɜrˌsɪŋ gəl /

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.

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surcingle British  

/ 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

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verb

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

Etymology

Origin of surcingle

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

Example Sentences

The saddle was the next slow process—a surcingle, a folded blanket and cinch, a double blanket and cinch, a bag of oats and cinch and, finally, the saddle and rider.

From The Preacher of Cedar Mountain A Tale of the Open Country by Seton, Ernest Thompson

The surcingle has accustomed him to girths—he leads well, and has learned that when the right rein is pulled he must go to the right, and when the left rein to the left.

From A New Illustrated Edition of J. S. Rarey's Art of Taming Horses With the Substance of the Lectures at the Round House, and Additional Chapters on Horsemanship and Hunting, for the Young and Timid by Rarey, J. S. (John Solomon)

The saddle should be kept in its place by the elastic webbing girths, and not, as the common error is—probably from the facility of tightening it—by the hard, unyielding, leather surcingle.

From Hints on Horsemanship, to a Nephew and Niece or, Common Sense and Common Errors in Common Riding by Greenwood, George

"Only a blanket and surcingle," said Ray, to his orderly, who was coming up with the heavy saddle and bags.

From Marion's Faith. by King, Charles

When the horse has hopped for as long as you think necessary to tire him, buckle a common single strap roller or surcingle on his body tolerably tight.

From A New Illustrated Edition of J. S. Rarey's Art of Taming Horses With the Substance of the Lectures at the Round House, and Additional Chapters on Horsemanship and Hunting, for the Young and Timid by Rarey, J. S. (John Solomon)