gird

1 of 3

verb (1)

ˈgərd 

girded ˈgər-dəd  or girt ˈgərt  ; girding

transitive verb

1

: to prepare (oneself) for action

2

a

: to encircle or bind with a flexible band (such as a belt)

b

: to make (something, such as clothing or a sword ) fast or secure (as with a cord or belt)

gird a sword by a belt

c

: surround

3

: provide, equip

especially : to invest with the sword of knighthood

intransitive verb

: to prepare for action

Both sides are girding for battle.

gird

2 of 3

verb (2)

girded; girding; girds

transitive verb

: to sneer at : mock

intransitive verb

: gibe, rail

An unbearable ill-humour settled on the ship: men, mates, and master, girding at one another all day long.

—Robert Louis Stevenson

gird

3 of 3

noun

: a sarcastic remark

Phrases

gird one's loins

: to prepare for action : muster up one's resources

Synonyms

Verb (1)

• band
• begird
• belt
• engird [archaic]
• engirdle
• enwind
• girdle
• girt
• girth
• wrap

Noun

• affront
• barb
• brickbat
• cut
• dart
• dig
• dis [slang]
• diss
• epithet
• indignity
• insult
• name
• offense
• offence
• outrage
• personality
• poke
• put-down
• sarcasm
• slap
• slight
• slur

Examples of gird in a Sentence

Verb (1)

for the celebration of the heroes' return, well-wishers girded hundreds of trees with yellow ribbons

she girded her waist with a delicate sash

the Spartan warrior girded himself for battle with sword and shield

a tall hedge girds the exclusive estate and shields it from prying eyes

Noun

in her farewell speech, the departing governor got in some retaliatory girds at the media

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Studio commissaries, cafeterias and executive dining rooms long have been spaces to surreptitiously goggle at visiting talent as well as places to be seen with the powers that be for girding one’s position in the corporate pecking order. —Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Nov. 2024

Walz was girded for war against Vance, who has spent the past 10 weeks defending past controversial remarks. —Mike Allen, Axios, 3 Oct. 2024

Elliott and Southwest as recently as last week had been girding up for a proxy fight. —Rohan Goswami, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2024

The report comes nearly four years after the 2021 Capitol riot and as the nation girds for the possibility of political violence after what are expected to be cliffhanger elections on Nov. 5. —Tribune News Service, The Denver Post, 24 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English girden "to encircle the waist of, put a belt about, prepare (oneself)," going back to Old English gyrdan "to encircle with a belt, equip," going back to Germanic *gurđjan- (whence also Old Saxon gurdian "to encircle with a belt," Old High German gurten, Old Norse gyrða), probably from a zero-grade derivative of the Indo-European root seen in *ghorto- or *ghordho- "enclosure" — more at yard entry 1

Verb (2)

Middle English, to strike, thrust

First Known Use

Verb (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2a

Verb (2)

1546, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun

1566, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing gird

• gird one's loins

Kids Definition

gird

verb

ˈgərd

girded

ˈgərd-əd

or girt

ˈgərt

; girding

1

: to encircle or fasten with or as if with a belt or cord

2

: to provide especially with the sword of knighthood

3

: to get ready (as for a fight)