begird

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To bind with a band or girdle; to gird.

   [A] Sagamore with a Humberd in his eare for a pendant, a black havvke on his occiput for his plume, Movvhackees for his gold chaine, good ſtore of VVampompeage begirting his loynes, his bovv in his hand, his quiver at his back, vvith ſix naked Indian ſplatterlaſhes at his heeles for his guard, thinkes himſelfe little inferiour to the great Cham; hee vvill not ſtick to ſay, hee is all one vvith King Charles.

2. 2
   verb

   To encircle, surround, as with a gird; enclose; encompass.

   […] I will stand my self for the whole Regiment, and safer far in mine owne single valour, then begirt with cowards and with traitors.

From Middle English begirden, from Old English begyrdan (“to gird, clothe, surround, fortify”), from Proto-Germanic *bi- + *gurdijaną (“to gird”), equivalent to be- + gird. Cognate with Old High German begurtjan (“to begird”), Gothic 𐌱𐌹𐌲𐌰𐌹𐍂𐌳𐌰𐌽 (bigairdan, “to begird”). More at be-, gird.

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