gird
1 of 3verb (1)
ˈgərd 
girded ˈgər-dəd or girt ˈgərt ; girding
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 3verb (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
Robert Louis Stevensongird
3 of 3noun
: a sarcastic remark
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
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Noun in her farewell speech, the departing governor got in some retaliatory girds at the media
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
Kids Definition
gird
verb
ˈgərd
girded or girt
ˈgərt
; girding 1
: to encircle or fasten with or as if with a belt or cord
Her waist was girded with a purple sash.
2
: to prepare for conflict or for some difficult task
When he heard Dana bellow, Roy closed his eyes and girded himself for the worst. Carl Hiaasen, Hoot
Carl Hiaasen, Hootgirds 1 of 2
noun
as in insults
an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings in her farewell speech, the departing governor got in some retaliatory girds at the media Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- insults
- sarcasms
- outrages
- slaps
- disses
- indignities
- offences
- barbs
- attacks
- digs
- pokes
- darts
- disgraces
- affronts
- cuts
- brickbats
- dises
- shames
- epithets
- names
- offenses
- slights
- mocks
- slurs
- taunts
- personalities
- sneers
- gibes
- dishonors
- abuses
- jibes
- jeers
- criticisms
- vituperations
- catcalls
- knocks
- slams
- tortures
- invectives
- put-downs
- swipes
- quips
- disapprovals
- torments
- opprobriums
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- compliments
- praises
- commendations
- accolades
- acclaim
- flatteries
- applauses
- adulations
girds
2 of 2verb
1
as in wraps
to encircle or bind with or as if with a belt for the celebration of the heroes' return, well-wishers girded hundreds of trees with yellow ribbons she girded her waist with a delicate sash Synonyms & Similar Words
- wraps
- bandages
- girts
- circles
- engirds
- girths
- belts
- girdles
- begirds
- bands
- enwinds
- winds
- tapes
- engirdles
- loops
- ropes
- trusses
- wires
- cords
- chains
- ties up
- wreathes
- shackles
- swathes
- lashes
- enchains
- enwreathes
- enswathes
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- unwraps
- unwinds
- unties
- unshackles
- unbinds
- ungirds
- unlashes
2
as in equips
to provide (someone) with what is needed for a task or activity the Spartan warrior girded himself for battle with sword and shield Synonyms & Similar Words
- equips
- furnishes
- supplies
- prepares
- provisions
- outfits
- rigs
- fortifies
- arms
- presents
- contributes
- bestows
- donates
- stocks
- dispenses
- distributes
- accouters
- accoutres
- allots
- kits (up or out)
- allocates
- stores
- apportions
- portions
- assigns
- fits (out)
- gives
- hands out
- prorates
- doles out
- refits
- deals (out)
- parcels (out)
- metes (out)
- reequips
- refurnishes
- reoutfits
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- divests
- deprives
- strips
- dispossesses
3
as in surrounds
to form a circle around a tall hedge girds the exclusive estate and shields it from prying eyes Synonyms & Similar Words
- surrounds
- encircles
- encompasses
- circles
- encloses
- rings
- embraces
- incloses
- environs
- girdles
- wreathes
- circumscribes
- walls
- besieges
- compasses
- besets
- entrenches
- closes in
- invests
- swarms
- fences (in)
- hems (in)
- cordons (off)
- intrenches
- counterpane
- counterpanes
- counterpart
- counterparts
- counterparty
- counterpassant
- counterpersons
- counterpetition
- counterpetitioned
- counterpetitioning
- counterpetitions
- counterpicket
- counterpicketed
- counterpicketing
- counterpickets
- counterplan
- counterplans
- counterplay
- counterplayers
- counterplays
- counterplea
- counterpleaded
- counterpleading
- counterpleads
- counterpleas