Chapter 60

Syn. -- Present; donation; grant; largess; benefaction; boon; bounty; gratuity; endowment; talent; faculty. -- Gift, Present, Donation. These words, as here compared, denote something gratuitously imparted to another out of one's property. A gift is something given whether by a superior or an inferior, and is usually designed for the relief or benefit of him who receives it. A present is ordinarly from an equal or inferior, and is always intended as a compliment or expression of kindness. Donation is a word of more dignity, denoting, properly, a gift of considerable value, and ordinarly a gift made either to some public institution, or to an individual on account of his services to the public; as, a donation to a hospital, a charitable society, or a minister.

Gift, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Gifted; p. pr. & vb. n. Gifting.] To endow with some power or faculty.

He was gifted . . . with philosophical sagacity.

I. Taylor.

Gift"ed*ness, n. The state of being gifted. Echard.

Gig (jg or gg), n. [Cf. OF. gigue. See Jig, n.] A fiddle. [Obs.]

Gig (gg), v. t. [Prob. fr. L. gignere to beget.] To engender. [Obs.] Dryden.

Gig, n. A kind of spear or harpoon. See Fishgig.

Gig, v. t. To fish with a gig.

Gig, n. [OE. gigge. Cf. Giglot.] A playful or wanton girl; a giglot.

Gig, n. [Cf. Icel. ggja fiddle, MHG. gge, G. geige, Icel. geiga to take a wrong direction, rove at random, and E. jig.] 1. A top or whirligig; any little thing that is whirled round in play.

Thou disputest like an infant; go, whip thy gig.

Shak.

2. A light carriage, with one pair of wheels, drawn by one horse; a kind of chaise.

3. (Naut.) A long, light rowboat, generally clinkerbuilt, and designed to be fast; a boat appropriated to the use of the commanding officer; as, the captain's gig.

4. (Mach.) A rotatory cylinder, covered with wire teeth or teasels, for teaseling woolen cloth.

Gig machine, Gigging machine, Gig mill, or Napping machine. See Gig, 4. -- Gig saw. See Jig saw.

Gi`gan*te"an (?), a. [L. giganteus, fr. gigas, antis. See Giant.] Like a giant; mighty; gigantic. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

Gi`gan*tesque" (?), a. [F.] Befitting a giant; bombastic; magniloquent.

The sort of mock-heroic gigantesque With which we bantered little Lilia first.

Tennyson.

Gi*gan"tic (?), a. [L. gigas, -antis, giant. See Giant.] 1. Of extraordinary size; like a giant.

2. Such as a giant might use, make, or cause; immense; tremendous; extraordinarly; as, gigantic deeds; gigantic wickedness. Milton.

When descends on the Atlantic The gigantic Strom wind of the equinox.

Longfellow.

Gi*gan"tic*al, a. Bulky, big. [Obs.] Burton. -- Gi*gan"tic*al*ly, adv.

Gi*gan"ti*cide (?), n. [. gigas, -antis, giant + caedere to kill.] The act of killing, or one who kills, a giant. Hallam.

Gi*gan"tine (?), a. Gigantic. [Obs.] Bullokar.

Gi`gan*tol"og*y (?), n. [Gr. &?;, &?;, giant + -logy: cf. F. gigantologie.] An account or description of giants.

Gi`gan*tom"a*chy (?), n. [L. gigantomachia, fr. Gr. &?;; &?;, &?;, giant + &?; battle: cf. F. gigantomachie.] A war of giants; especially, the fabulous war of the giants against heaven.

Gige (gj or gj), Guige, n. [OF. guide, guiche.] (Anc. Armor) The leather strap by which the shield of a knight was slung across the shoulder, or across the neck and shoulder. Meyrick (Ancient Armor).

||Gi*ge"ri*um (?), n.; pl. Gigeria (#). [NL., fr. L. gigeria, pl., the ||cooked entrails of poultry.] (Anat.) The muscular stomach, or ||gizzard, of birds.

Gig"get (?), n. Same as Gigot.

Cut the slaves to giggets.

Beau. & Fl.

Gig"gle (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Giggled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Giggling (?).] [Akin to gaggle: cf. OD. ghichelen, G. kichern.] To laugh with short catches of the breath or voice; to laugh in a light, affected, or silly manner; to titter with childish levity.

Giggling and laughing with all their might At the piteous hap of the fairy wight.

J. R. Drake.

Gig"gle (?), n. A kind of laugh, with short catches of the voice or breath; a light, silly laugh.

Gig"gler (?), n. One who giggles or titters.

Gig"gly (?), a. Prone to giggling. Carlyle.

Gig"got (?), n. See Gigot. [Obs.] Chapman.

Gig"gyng (?), n. [See Gige.] The act of fastending the gige or leather strap to the shield. [Obs.] "Gigging of shields." Chaucer.

{ Gig"lot (?), Gig"let (?), } n. [Cf. Icel. gikkr a pert, rude person, Dan. giek a fool, silly man, AS. gagol, gÊgl, lascivious, wanton, MHG. gogel wanton, giege fool, and E. gig a wanton person.] A wanton; a lascivious or light, giddy girl. [Obs.]

The giglet is willful, and is running upon her fate.

Sir W. Scott.

Gig"lot (?), a. Giddi; light; inconstant; wanton. [Obs.] "O giglot fortune!" Shak.

Gig"ot, Gig"got (&?;), n. [F., fr. OF. gigue fiddle; -- on account of the resemblance in shape. See Jig, n.]

1. A leg of mutton.

2. A small piece of flesh; a slice. [Obs.]

The rest in giggots cut, they spit.

Chapman.

Gi"la mon"ster (?). (Zoˆl.) A large tuberculated lizard (Heloderma suspectum) native of the dry plains of Arizona, New Mexico, etc. It is the only lizard known to have venomous teeth.

Gild (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Gilded or Gilt (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Gilding.] [AS. gyldan, from gold gold. √234. See Gold.] 1. To overlay with a thin covering of gold; to cover with a golden color; to cause to look like gold. "Gilded chariots." Pope.

No more the rising sun shall gild the morn.

Pope.

2. To make attractive; to adorn; to brighten.

Let oft good humor, mild and gay, Gild the calm evening of your day.

Trumbull.

3. To give a fair but deceptive outward appearance to; to embellish; as, to gild a lie. Shak.

4. To make red with drinking. [Obs.]

This grand liquior that hath gilded them.

Shak.

Gild"ale` (?), n. [AS. gilgan to pay + E. ale. See Yield, v. t., and Ale.] A drinking bout in which every one pays an equal share. [Obs.]

Gild"en (?), a. Gilded. Holland.

Gild"er (?), n. One who gilds; one whose occupation is to overlay with gold.

Gil"der (?), n. A Dutch coin. See Guilder.

Gild"ing (gld"ng), n. 1. The art or practice of overlaying or covering with gold leaf; also, a thin coating or wash of gold, or of that which resembles gold.

2. Gold in leaf, powder, or liquid, for application to any surface.

3. Any superficial coating or appearance, as opposed to what is solid and genuine.

Gilding metal, a tough kind of sheet brass from which cartridge shells are made.

Gile (?), n. [See Guile.] Guile. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Gill (?), n. [Dan. giÊlle, gelle; akin to Sw. g‰l, Icel. gjˆlnar gills; cf. AS. geagl, geahl, jaw.] 1. (Anat.) An organ for aquatic respiration; a branchia.

Fishes perform respiration under water by the gills.

Ray.

Gills are usually lamellar or filamentous appendages, through which the blood circulates, and in which it is exposed to the action of the air contained in the water. In vertebrates they are appendages of the visceral arches on either side of the neck. In invertebrates they occupy various situations.

2. pl. (Bot.) The radiating, gill-shaped plates forming the under surface of a mushroom.

3. (Zoˆl.) The fleshy flap that hangs below the beak of a fowl; a wattle.

4. The flesh under or about the chin. Swift.

5. (Spinning) One of the combs of closely ranged steel pins which divide the ribbons of flax fiber or wool into fewer parallel filaments. [Prob. so called from F. aiguilles, needles. Ure.]

Gill arches, Gill bars. (Anat.) Same as Branchial arches. -- Gill clefts. (Anat.) Same as Branchial clefts. See under Branchial. -- Gill cover, Gill lid. See Operculum. -- Gill frame, or Gill head (Flax Manuf.), a spreader; a machine for subjecting flax to the action of gills. Knight. -- Gill net, a flat net so suspended in the water that its meshes allow the heads of fish to pass, but catch in the gills when they seek to extricate themselves. -- Gill opening, or Gill slit (Anat.), an opening behind and below the head of most fishes, and some amphibians, by which the water from the gills is discharged. In most fishes there is a single opening on each side, but in the sharks and rays there are five, or more, on each side. -- Gill rakes, or Gill rakers (Anat.), horny filaments, or progresses, on the inside of the branchial arches of fishes, which help to prevent solid substances from being carried into gill cavities.

Gill, n. [Etymol. uncertain.] A two-wheeled frame for transporting timber. [Prov. Eng.]

Gill, n. A leech. [Also gell.] [Scot.] Jameison.

Gill, n. [Icel. gil.] A woody glen; a narrow valley containing a stream. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

Gill (?), n. [OF. gille, gelle, a sort of measure for wine, LL. gillo, gello., Cf. Gallon.] A measure of capacity, containing one fourth of a pint.

Gill (?), n. [Abbrev. from Gillian.] 1. A young woman; a sweetheart; a flirting or wanton girl. "Each Jack with his Gill." B. Jonson.

2. (Bot.) The ground ivy (Nepeta Glechoma); -- called also gill over the ground, and other like names.

3. Malt liquor medicated with ground ivy.

Gill ale. (a) Ale flavored with ground ivy. (b) (Bot.) Alehoof.

Gill"-flirt` (?), n. A thoughtless, giddy girl; a flirt-gill. Sir W. Scott.

Gill"house`, n. A shop where gill is sold.

Thee shall each alehouse, thee each gillhouse mourn.

Pope.

Gil"li*an (?), n. [OE. Gillian, a woman's name, for Julian, Juliana. Cf. Gill a girl.] A girl; esp., a wanton; a gill. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

{ Gil"lie Gil"ly } (?), n. [Gael. gille, giolla, boy, lad.] A boy or young man; a manservant; a male attendant, in the Scottish Highlands. Sir W. Scott.

Gil"ly*flow`er (?), n. [OE. gilofre, gilofer, clove, OF. girofre, girofle, F. girofle: cf. F. giroflÈe gillyflower, fr. girofle, Gr. &?; clove tree; &?; nut + &?; leaf, akin to E. foliage. Cf. Caryophyllus, July- flower.] (Bot.) 1. A name given by old writers to the clove pink (Dianthus Caryophyllus) but now to the common stock (Matthiola incana), a cruciferous plant with showy and fragrant blossoms, usually purplish, but often pink or white.

2. A kind of apple, of a roundish conical shape, purplish red color, and having a large core.

[Written also gilliflower.]

Clove gillyflower, the clove pink. -- Marsh gillyflower, the ragged robin (Lychnis Flos-cuculi). -- Queen's, or Winter, gillyflower, damewort. -- Sea gillyflower, the thrift (Armeria vulgaris). -- Wall gillyflower, the wallflower (Cheiranthus Cheiri). -- Water gillyflower, the water violet.

Gil"our (?), n. [OF.] A guiler; deceiver. [Obs.]

Gilse (?), n. [W. gleisiad, fr. glas blue.] (Zoˆl.) See Grilse.

Gilt (?), n. [See Geld, v. t.] (Zoˆl.) A female pig, when young.

Gilt, imp. & p. p. of Gild.

Gilt, p. p. & a. Gilded; covered with gold; of the color of gold; golden yellow. "Gilt hair" Chaucer.

Gilt, n. 1. Gold, or that which resembles gold, laid on the surface of a thing; gilding. Shak.

2. Money. [Obs.] "The gilt of France." Shak.

{ Gilt"-edge` (?), Gilt"-edged` (?), } a. 1. Having a gilt edge; as, gilt-edged paper.

2. Of the best quality; -- said of negotiable paper, etc. [Slang, U. S.]

Gilt"head` (?), n. (Zoˆl.) A marine fish. The name is applied to two species: (a) The Pagrus, or Chrysophrys, auratus, a valuable food fish common in the Mediterranean (so named from its golden-colored head); -- called also giltpoll. (b) The Crenilabrus melops, of the British coasts; -- called also golden maid, conner, sea partridge.

Gilt"if (?), a. [For gilti, by confusion with -if, -ive, in French forms. See Guilty.] Guilty. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Gilt"tail` (?), n. A yellow-tailed worm or larva.

Gim (?), a. [Cf. Gimp, a.] Neat; spruce. [Prov.]

Gim"bal (?), or Gim"bals (&?;), n. [See Gimmal, n.] A contrivance for permitting a body to incline freely in all directions, or for suspending anything, as a barometer, ship's compass, chronometer, etc., so that it will remain plumb, or level, when its support is tipped, as by the rolling of a ship. It consists of a ring in which the body can turn on an axis through a diameter of the ring, while the ring itself is so pivoted to its support that it can turn about a diameter at right angles to the first.

Gimbal joint (Mach.), a universal joint embodying the principle of the gimbal. -- Gimbal ring, a single gimbal, as that by which the cockeye of the upper millstone is supported on the spindle.

Gim"blet (?), n. & v. See Gimlet.

Gim"crack` (?), n. [OE., a spruce and pert pretender, also, a spruce girl, prob. fr. gim + crack lad, boaster.] A trivial mechanism; a device; a toy; a pretty thing. Arbuthnot.

Gim"let (?), n. [Also written and pronounced gimbled (&?;)] [OF. guimbelet, guibelet, F. gibelet, prob. fr. OD. wimpel, weme, a bore, wemelen to bore, to wimble. See Wimble, n.] A small tool for boring holes. It has a leading screw, a grooved body, and a cross handle.

Gimlet eye, a squint-eye. [Colloq.] Wright.

Gim"let, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Gimleted; p. pr. & vb. n. Gimleting.] 1. To pierce or make with a gimlet.

2. (Naut.) To turn round (an anchor) by the stock, with a motion like turning a gimlet.

Gim"mal (?), n. [Prob. the same word as gemel. See Gemel, and cf. Gimbal.] 1. Joined work whose parts move within each other; a pair or series of interlocked rings.

2. A quaint piece of machinery; a gimmer. [Obs.]

Gim"mal, a. Made or consisting of interlocked rings or links; as, gimmal mail.

In their pale dull mouths the gimmal bit Lies foul with chewed grass.

Shak.

Gimmal joint. See Gimbal joint, under Gimbal.

Gim"mer, Gim"mor (&?;), n. [Cf. Gimmal, n.] A piece of mechanism; mechanical device or contrivance; a gimcrack. [Obs.] Bp. Hall. Shak.

<! p. 626 !>

Gimp (?), a. [W. gwymp fair, neat, comely.] Smart; spruce; trim; nice. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.]

Gimp, n. [OF. guimpe, guimple, a nun's wimple, F. guimpe, OHG. wimpal a veil G. wimpel pennon, pendant. See Wimple, n.] A narrow ornamental fabric of silk, woolen, or cotton, often with a metallic wire, or sometimes a coarse cord, running through it; -- used as trimming for dresses, furniture, etc.

Gimp nail, an upholsterer's small nail.

Gimp, v. t. To notch; to indent; to jag.

Gin (?), prep. [AS. ge·n. See Again.] Against; near by; towards; as, gin night. [Scot.] A. Ross (1778).

Gin, conj. [See Gin, prep.] If. [Scotch] Jamieson.

Gin (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Gan (?), Gon (&?;), or Gun (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Ginning.] [OE. ginnen, AS. ginnan (in comp.), prob. orig., to open, cut open, cf. OHG. inginnan to begin, open, cut open, and prob. akin to AS. gnan to yawn, and E. yawn. &?; See Yawn, v. i., and cf. Begin.] To begin; -- often followed by an infinitive without to; as, gan tell. See Gan. [Obs. or Archaic] "He gan to pray." Chaucer.

Gin (?), n. [Contr. from Geneva. See 2d Geneva.] A strong alcoholic liquor, distilled from rye and barley, and flavored with juniper berries; -- also called Hollands and Holland gin, because originally, and still very extensively, manufactured in Holland. Common gin is usually flavored with turpentine.

Gin (?), n. [A contraction of engine.]

1. Contrivance; artifice; a trap; a snare. Chaucer. Spenser.

2. (a) A machine for raising or moving heavy weights, consisting of a tripod formed of poles united at the top, with a windlass, pulleys, ropes, etc. (b) (Mining) A hoisting drum, usually vertical; a whim.

3. A machine for separating the seeds from cotton; a cotton gin.

The name is also given to an instrument of torture worked with screws, and to a pump moved by rotary sails.

Gin block, a simple form of tackle block, having one wheel, over which a rope runs; -- called also whip gin, rubbish pulley, and monkey wheel. -- Gin power, a form of horse power for driving a cotton gin. -- Gin race, or Gin ring, the path of the horse when putting a gin in motion. Halliwell. -- Gin saw, a saw used in a cotton gin for drawing the fibers through the grid, leaving the seed in the hopper. -- Gin wheel. (a) In a cotton gin, a wheel for drawing the fiber through the grid; a brush wheel to clean away the lint. (b) (Mining) the drum of a whim.

Gin, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ginned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Ginning.] 1. To catch in a trap. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

2. To clear of seeds by a machine; as, to gin cotton.

Ging (?), n. Same as Gang, n., 2. [Obs.]

There is a knot, a ging, a pack, a conspiracy against me.

Shak.

Gin*gal" (?), n. See Jingal.

Gin"ger (?), n. [OE. ginger, gingever, gingivere, OF. gengibre, gingimbre, F. gingembre, L. zingiber, zingiberi, fr. Gr. &?;; of Oriental origin; cf. Ar. & Pers. zenjebl, fr. Skr. &?;&?;&?;gavÎra, prop., hornshaped; &?;&?;&?;ga horn + vÎra body.]

1. (Bot.) A plant of the genus Zingiber, of the East and West Indies. The species most known is Z. officinale.

2. The hot and spicy rootstock of Zingiber officinale, which is much used in cookery and in medicine.

Ginger beer or ale, a mild beer impregnated with ginger. -- Ginger cordial, a liquor made from ginger, raisins, lemon rind, and water, and sometimes whisky or brandy. -- Ginger pop. See Ginger beer (above). -- Ginger wine, wine impregnated with ginger. -- Wild ginger (Bot.), an American herb (Asarum Canadense) with two reniform leaves and a long, cordlike rootstock which has a strong taste of ginger.

Gin"ger*bread` (?), n. A kind of plain sweet cake seasoned with ginger, and sometimes made in fanciful shapes. "Gingerbread that was full fine." Chaucer.

Gingerbread tree (Bot.), the doom palm; -- so called from the resemblance of its fruit to gingerbread. See Doom Palm. -- Gingerbread work, ornamentation, in architecture or decoration, of a fantastic, trivial, or tawdry character.

Gin"ger*ly, adv. [Prov. E. ginger brittle, tender; cf. dial. Sw. gingla, g‰ngla, to go gently, totter, akin to E. gang.] Cautiously; timidly; fastidiously; daintily.

What is't that you took up so gingerly ?

Shak.

Gin"ger*ness, n. Cautiousness; tenderness.

Ging"ham (?), n. [F. guingan; cf. Jav. ginggang; or perh. fr. Guingamp, in France.] A kind of cotton or linen cloth, usually in stripes or checks, the yarn of which is dyed before it is woven; -- distinguished from printed cotton or prints.

Ging"ing (?), n. (Mining) The lining of a mine shaft with stones or bricks to prevent caving.

Gin"gi*val (?), a. [L. gingiva the gum.] Of or pertaining to the gums. Holder.

Gin"gle (?), n. & v. [Obs.] See Jingle.

Gin"gly*form (?), a. (Anat.) Ginglymoid.

||Gin`gly*mo"di (?), n. [NL.; cf. Gr. &?; ginglymoid. See Ginglymoid.] ||(Zoˆl.) An order of ganoid fishes, including the modern gar pikes and ||many allied fossil forms. They have rhombic, ganoid scales, a ||heterocercal tail, paired fins without an axis, fulcra on the fins, ||and a bony skeleton, with the vertebrÊ convex in front and concave ||behind, forming a ball and socket joint. See Ganoidel.

{ Gin"gly*moid (?), Gin`gly*moid"al (?), } a. [Gr. &?;; &?; ginglymus + &?; form: cf. F. ginglymoide, ginglymoÔdal.] (Anat.) Pertaining to, or resembling, a ginglymus, or hinge joint; ginglyform.

||Gin"gly*mus (?), n.; pl. Ginglymi (#). [NL., fr. Gr. &?; a hingelike ||joint, a ball and socket joint.] (Anat.) A hinge joint; an ||articulation, admitting of flexion and extension, or motion in two ||directions only, as the elbow and the ankle.

Gin"house` (?), n. A building where cotton is ginned.

Gink"go (?), n.; pl. Ginkgoes (#). [Chin., silver fruit.] (Bot.) A large ornamental tree (Ginkgo biloba) from China and Japan, belonging to the Yew suborder of ConiferÊ. Its leaves are so like those of some maidenhair ferns, that it is also called the maidenhair tree.

Gin"nee (?), n.; pl. Ginn (&?;). See Jinnee.

Gin"net (?), n. See Genet, a horse.

Gin"ning (?), n. [See Gin, v. i.] Beginning. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Gin"ny-car`riage (&?;), n. A small, strong carriage for conveying materials on a railroad. [Eng.]

Gin"seng (?), n. [Chinese.] (Bot.) A plant of the genus Aralia, the root of which is highly valued as a medicine among the Chinese. The Chinese plant (Aralia Schinseng) has become so rare that the American (A. quinquefolia) has largely taken its place, and its root is now an article of export from America to China. The root, when dry, is of a yellowish white color, with a sweetness in the taste somewhat resembling that of licorice, combined with a slight aromatic bitterness.

Gin"shop` (?), n. A shop or barroom where gin is sold as a beverage. [Colloq.]

Gip (?), v. t. To take out the entrails of (herrings).

Gip, n. A servant. See Gyp. Sir W. Scott.

Gi*poun" (?), n. [See Jupon.] A short cassock. [Written also gepoun, gypoun, jupon, juppon.] [Obs.]

{ Gip"ser (?), Gip"sire (?), } n. [F. gibeciËre a game pouch or game pocket. Cf. Gibbier.] A kind of pouch formerly worn at the girdle. Ld. Lytton.

A gipser all of silk, Hung at his girdle, white as mornÈ milk.

Chaucer.

Gip"sy (jp"s), n. & a. See Gypsy.

Gip"sy*ism (?), n. See Gypsyism.

Gi*raffe" (?), n. [F. girafe, Sp. girafa, from Ar. zurfa, zarfa.] (Zoˆl.) An African ruminant (Camelopardalis giraffa) related to the deers and antelopes, but placed in a family by itself; the camelopard. It is the tallest of animals, being sometimes twenty feet from the hoofs to the top of the head. Its neck is very long, and its fore legs are much longer than its hind legs.

Gir"an*dole (?), n. [F. See Gyrate.]

1. An ornamental branched candlestick.

2. A flower stand, fountain, or the like, of branching form.

3. (Pyrotechny) A kind of revolving firework.

4. (Fort.) A series of chambers in defensive mines. Farrow.

{ Gir"a*sole Gir"a*sol } (?), n. [It. girasole, or F. girasol, fr. L. gyrare to turn around + sol sun.]

1. (Bot.) See Heliotrope. [Obs.]

2. (Min.) A variety of opal which is usually milk white, bluish white, or sky blue; but in a bright light it reflects a reddish color.

Gird (grd), 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.

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.

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.

Gird (grd), 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. g¸rten, Icel. gyra, Sw. gjorda, Dan. giorde, Goth. bigaÌrdan 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.

Gird"er (?), n. [From Gird to sneer at.] One who girds; a satirist.

Gird"er, n. [From Gird to encircle.]

1. One who, or that which, girds.