Gird

Gird (gẽrd), n. [See Yard a measure.]

1. A stroke with a rod or switch; a severe spasm; a twinge; a pang.

Conscience . . . is freed from many fearful girds and twinges which the atheist feels. Tillotson.

2. A cut; a sarcastic remark; a gibe; a sneer.

I thank thee for that gird, good Tranio. Shak.

Gird, v. t. [See Gird, n., and cf. Girde, v.]

1. To strike; to smite. [Obs.]

To slay him and to girden off his head. Chaucer.

2. To sneer at; to mock; to gibe.

Being moved, he will not spare to gird the gods. Shak.

Gird, v. i. To gibe; to sneer; to break a scornful jest; to utter severe sarcasms.

Men of all sorts take a pride to gird at me. Shak.

Gird (gẽrd), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Girt or Girded; p. pr. & vb. n. Girding.] [OE. girden, gurden, AS. gyrdan; akin to OS. gurdian, D. gorden, OHG. gurten, G. gürten, Icel. gyrða, Sw. gjorda, Dan. giorde, Goth. bigaírdan to begird, and prob. to E. yard an inclosure. Cf. Girth, n. & v., Girt, v. t.] 1. To encircle or bind with any flexible band.

2. To make fast, as clothing, by binding with a cord, girdle, bandage, etc.

3. To surround; to encircle, or encompass.

That Nyseian isle, Girt with the River Triton. Milton.

4. To clothe; to swathe; to invest.

I girded thee about with fine linen. Ezek. xvi. 10.

The Son . . . appeared Girt with omnipotence. Milton.

5. To prepare; to make ready; to equip; as, to gird one's self for a contest.

Thou hast girded me with strength. Ps. xviii. 39.

To gird on, to put on; to fasten around or to one securely, like a girdle; as, to gird on armor or a sword.

Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off. 1 Kings xx. 11.

— To gird up, to bind tightly with a girdle; to support and strengthen, as with a girdle.

He girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab. 1 Kings xviii. 46.

Gird up the loins of your mind. 1 Pet. i. 13.

— Girt up; prepared or equipped, as for a journey or for work, in allusion to the ancient custom of gathering the long flowing garments into the girdle and tightening it before any exertion; hence, adjectively, eagerly or constantly active; strenuous; striving. "A severer, more girt-up way of living." J. C. Shairp.