begird

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

• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)d

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,

     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,

     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,

     […] 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,

     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,

     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,

     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.

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

• Bridge, bridge