Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “gird” come from?

Gird comes from Middle English girden, from Old English gyrdan, from Proto-Germanic gurdijaną, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰer-, a root meaning to enclose or encircle.

gird (English): To bind with a flexible rope or cord; To encircle...

Definitions

  1. To bind with a flexible rope or cord; To encircle...

Ancestry of “gird”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Middle Englishgirdento strike
2EstonianKertuGertrude
3GermanGertrud—
4Old High Germangērspear
5Proto-West Germanicgaiʀspear
6Proto-Germanicgaizazspear, pike, javelin
7Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰoysósthrowing spear
8Proto-Indo-Europeanǵʰey-winter

Words derived from “gird”

  • girding
  • undergird
  • girdeth
  • gride
  • engird
  • ungird
  • girdest
  • overgird
  • upgird
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰey- →