noun
girth
gurth
noun
1
The measurement around something; its circumference.
"The old oak tree has a girth of nearly four metres."
"He's put on some girth around the middle since retiring."
2
A strap that goes under a horse's belly to hold a saddle in place.
"She tightened the girth before mounting."
How to Use Girth
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe distance around something, or the saddle strap that goes under a horse.
Common pairings
increasing girth
tighten the girth
considerable girth
Word Forms
girthed past tense, girths plural, girths singular
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The old oak tree has a _____ of nearly four metres.
Etymology
From Old Norse gjörð, related to the Germanic root behind "gird" (to bind or encircle).