different between girdle vs begird

English

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /???dl?/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /????dl?/
• Rhymes: -??(?)d?l

Etymology 1

From Middle English girdel, gerdel, gurdel, from Old English gyrdel, from Proto-Germanic *gurdilaz (“girdle, belt”), equivalent to gird +? -le. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Gäddel (“belt”), West Frisian gurdle, gurle, gurl (“belt”), Dutch gordel (“belt”), German Gürtel (“belt”), Yiddish ??????? (gartl, “belt”) (whence English gartel), Swedish gördel (“girdle”), Icelandic gyrðill (“girdle”).

Noun

girdle (plural girdles)

1. That which girds, encircles, or encloses; a circumference
2. A belt or elasticated corset; especially, a belt, sash, or article of dress encircling the body usually at the waist, often used to support stockings or hosiery.
3. The zodiac; also, the equator.
   • 1799, Thomas Campbell, Pleasures of Hope

     that gems the starry girdle of the year

   • 1782, William Cowper, Expostulation

     from the world's girdle to the frozen pole

   • under the girdle of the world

4. The line of greatest circumference of a brilliant-cut diamond, at which it is grasped by the setting.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Knight to this entry?)

5. (mining) A thin bed or stratum of stone.
6. The clitellum of an earthworm.
7. The removal or inversion of a ring of bark in order to kill or stunt a tree.

Translations

Derived terms

• notch girdle
• peel girdle

Verb

girdle (third-person singular simple present girdles, present participle girdling, simple past and past participle girdled)

1. (transitive) To gird, encircle, or constrain by such means.
2. (transitive) To kill or stunt a tree by removing or inverting a ring of bark.

Translations

Etymology 2

Noun

girdle (plural girdles)

1. (Scotland, Northern English) Alternative form of griddle

References

Anagrams

• Gilder, gilder, girled, glider, gridle, regild, ridgel

English

Etymology

From Middle English begirden, from Old English begyrdan (“to gird, clothe, surround, fortify”), from Proto-Germanic *bi- + *gurdijan? (“to gird”), equivalent to be- +? gird. Cognate with Old High German begurtjan (“to begird”), Gothic ???????????????????????????????????? (bigairdan, “to begird”). More at be-, gird.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -??(?)d

Verb

begird (third-person singular simple present begirds, present participle begirding, simple past and past participle begirt or begirded)

1. (transitive, archaic) To bind with a band or girdle; to gird.
   • 1768, Laurence Sterne, A Sentimental Journey through France and Italy, London: T. Becket & P.A. De Hondt, Volume 2, p. 49,^[1]

     He was begirt with a clean linen apron which fell below his knees […]

   • 1876, William Morris (translator), The Æneids of Virgil, London: Ellis & White, Book 5, line 364, p. 130,^[2]

     Let him come forth to raise his arm with hide-begirded hand.

2. (transitive, archaic) To encircle, surround, as with a gird; enclose; encompass.
   • c. 1620s, John Webster, Appius and Virginia, London, 1654, Act II, Scene 1, pp. 16-17,^[3]

     […] I will stand my self

     for the whole Regiment, and safer far

     in mine owne single valour, then begirt

     with cowards and with traitors.

   • 1717, Arthur Maynwaring (translator), Ovid’s Metamorphoses in Fifteen Books, London: Jacob Tonson, Book 5, “The Story of Perseus continu’d,” p. 148,^[4]

     Perseus begirt, from all around they pour

     Their Lances on him, a tempestuous Show’r,

     Aim’d all at him […]

   • 1755, Philip Doddridge, Hymns Founded on Various Texts in the Holy Scriptures, Salop, p. 1,^[5]

     O lead me to that happy Path,

     Where I my GOD may meet;

     Tho’ Hosts of Foes begird it round,

     Tho’ Briars wound my Feet.

   • 1859, Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities, Book 2, Chapter 23,^[6]

     The chateau burned; the nearest trees, laid hold of by the fire, scorched and shrivelled; trees at a distance, fired by the four fierce figures, begirt the blazing edifice with a new forest of smoke.

Usage notes

Rare in forms other than the past participle/simple past begirt.

Translations

Anagrams

• Bridge, bridge