\Gird\, 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\, 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["u]rten, Icel. gyr?a,
Sw. gjorda, Dan. giorde, Goth. biga['i]rdan 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.