girth

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   stable gear consisting of a band around a horse's belly that holds the saddle in place

   We should replace this old girth before the saddle comes loose while someone is riding.

2. 2
   noun

   the distance around a person's body

   I am trying to reduce my girth through diet and exercise.

From Middle English girth, gerth, gyrth, from Old Norse gjǫrð, from Proto-Germanic *gerdō, from Proto-Indo-European *gʰerdʰ- (“to encircle, enclose; belt”). Cognate with Gothic 𐌲𐌰𐌹𐍂𐌳𐌰 (gairda), Icelandic gjörð. Also related to German Gurt, English gird, Albanian ngërthej (“to tie, bind, fasten”).

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