Gird (?), 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.
© Webster 1913.
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.
© Webster 1913.
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.
© Webster 1913.
Gird (?), 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. gurten, Icel. gyra, Sw. gjorda, Dan. giorde, Goth. biga�xa1;rdan 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.
© Webster 1913.