girth

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noun \ ˈgərth \

Definition of girth

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

2 a :a measure around a body

a man of more than average girth

the girth of a tree

b :size, dimensions

See girth defined for English-language learners

See girth defined for kids

Examples of girth in a Sentence

The tree is about two meters in girth.
a person of large girth
a girth of about two meters

Recent Examples of girth from the Web

Even now, on the edge of his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, people can’t grasp his lack of stereotypical girth.

— dave hyde, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Hyde: Jason Taylor overcame sizable odds all the way to Hall of Fame | Commentary," 1 Aug. 2017
Despite this added girth, the tiny two-door is incredibly easy to maneuver thanks to its impressive 22.8-foot turning circle—5.9 feet better than the previous car and a whopping 12.9 feet better than that of a Honda Civic.

— greg fink, Car and Driver, "2017 Smart Fortwo Cabriolet Automatic," 12 July 2017
Tolu Jacobs Yaffa (6-11, 270): A classic wide body center with surprising agility for his girth.

— mark zeigler, sandiegouniontribune.com, "SDSU pursuing bigs as July recruiting period opens," 11 July 2017
Todd Brunner's massive girth and his myriad of medical woes combined to keep the man once known as Milwaukee's foreclosure king out of prison Friday.

— cary spivak, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Onetime 'foreclosure king' Todd Brunner stays out of prison; judge cites extreme weight, health," 30 June 2017
Lance leans over his desk, his round belly situating his body tightly between the wooden chair and plastic desk—both too small for someone with his girth.

— clint smith, The Atlantic, "Why Prison Education Is About More Than Lowering Recidivism," 27 June 2017
Volstagg is a huge man with a huge appetite and the girth to prove it.

— michael sangiacomo, cleveland.com, "Good month for second stringers like Volstagg, She-Hulk, Aquaman and Bug (photos, video)," 27 June 2017
A man whose physical girth and gusto came to symbolize the weight and power of Europe’s biggest country, Kohl spent little time at his new home in Berlin after the move of the capital from Bonn in the summer of 1999.

— carol j. williams, The Seattle Times, "Helmut Kohl, Germany’s ‘chancellor of unity’ who was marred by scandal, dies at 87," 16 June 2017
The big guy stretches 45 feet with a girth of 243 feet.

— birmingham magazine, AL.com, "4 types of Alabama road trips you must take this summer," 12 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'girth.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of girth

Middle English, from Old Norse gjǫrth; akin to Old English gyrdan to gird

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

See Words from the same year

girth Synonyms

Synonyms

circumference

Related Words

ambit, circuit, compass; waistline; equator; diameter, radius; perimeter, periphery

Other Animal Husbandry Terms

apiary, bantam, calico, hogwash, mast, rut

girth

verb

Definition of girth

transitive verb

1 :encircle

2 :to bind or fasten with a band or strap

3 :to measure around the body of something

Examples of girth in a Sentence

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

Origin and Etymology of girth

see ¹girth

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

girth Synonyms

Synonyms

band, begird, belt, engird [archaic], engirdle, enwind, girdle, girt, gird, wrap

Antonyms

ungird, unwrap

Related Words

tie up, truss; circle, enwreathe, loop, wind, wreathe; bandage, enswathe, swathe; chain, cord, enchain, lash, rope, shackle, tape, wire

Near Antonyms

unbind, unlash, unshackle, untie, unwind

Other Animal Husbandry Terms

apiary, bantam, calico, girth, hogwash, mast, rut

GIRTH Defined for English Language Learners

girth

play

noun

Definition of girth for English Language Learners

: the size of someone or something measured around the middle
: a band or strap placed around the body of an animal (such as a horse) to hold something (such as a saddle) on its back

GIRTH Defined for Kids

girth

play

noun \ ˈgərth \

Definition of girth for Students

1 :the measure or distance around something

the girth of a tree

2 :a band put around the body of an animal to hold something (as a saddle) on its back

Medical Dictionary

girth

play

noun \ ˈgərth \

medical Definition of girth

:a measure around a body

Learn More about girth

See words that rhyme with girth Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for girth Spanish Central: Translation of girth Nglish: Translation of girth for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of girth for Arabic speakers

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Origin and Etymology of girth

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Other Animal Husbandry Terms

girth

Definition of girth

Examples of girth in a Sentence

Origin and Etymology of girth

girth Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Other Animal Husbandry Terms

GIRTH Defined for English Language Learners

girth

Definition of girth for English Language Learners

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girth

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Medical Dictionary

girth

medical Definition of girth

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