girth

1 of 2

noun

ˈgərth

Synonyms of girth next

: a band or strap that encircles the body of an animal to fasten something (such as a saddle) on its back

: a measure around a body

a man of more than average girth

the girth of a tree

: size, dimensions

girth

2 of 2

verb

girthed; girthing; girths

transitive verb

: encircle

: to bind or fasten with a band or strap

: to measure around the body of something

Examples of girth in a Sentence

Noun The tree is about two meters in girth. a person of large girth a girth of about two meters Verb you'll need to make sure you girth the saddle tightly or you'll fall off the horse his arms couldn't quite girth the stone column

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The pipeline failure occurred at a girth weld, a point that adjoins two pipes, the agency said. —

Max Zahn, ABC News, 9 Mar. 2023 This past week’s military takeover in the West African nation of Niger toppled the final domino in a band across the girth of Africa, from Guinea in the west to Sudan in the east, now controlled by juntas that came to power in a coup — all but one in the past two years. —

Declan Walsh, BostonGlobe.com, 29 July 2023 The patient, who had arrived that morning average sized — four inches in length by four inches in girth — was now six by five. —

Ava Kofman, ProPublica, 26 June 2023 The monster measured 59 inches long and sported a 32-inch girth. —

Steven Hill, Field & Stream, 20 Mar. 2023 The handle provides just enough width and girth to ensure a solid grip but isn’t bulky. —

Jace Bauserman, Field & Stream, 15 June 2023 The smallmouth buffalo measured 45 1/4 inches long with a 35-inch girth. —

Bob McNally, Outdoor Life, 8 June 2023 The team manufactured the girth with the help of an Australian cultured meat company, Vow, which has entertained the possibility of mass production and sale of the meat. —

Anders Hagstrom, Fox News, 29 Mar. 2023 The fish weighed 32 pounds and stretched 40 ½ inches long with a 30-inch girth. —

Steven Hill, Field & Stream, 20 Mar. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'girth.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English gerth, girth "belt securing a horse's saddle, hoop around a barrel or tub," borrowed from Old Norse *gerðu-, base of gjǫrð "belt, girth," going back to Germanic *gerđō (whence also Middle Dutch darmgherde "girth," Gothic gairda "belt"), from an e-grade derivative of the root seen in *gurđjan- "to encircle with a belt" — more at gird entry 1

Verb

Middle English gerthen, girthen, derivative of gerth, girth girth entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of girth was in the 13th century

See more words from the same century