Girth
/ɡɜːrθ/noun
The measurement around the middle of something, typically a person's waist or an object.
Did you know?The word 'girth' comes from a root that signifies 'to encircle,' hinting at ancient practices of measurement and binding in rituals.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gʰerd-
“to enclose or surround.”
Old English
Old English
gyrð
“a circle or a band, often related to encircling an object.”
Middle English
Middle English
girth
“the circumference of something, especially used in the context of measuring.”
Modern English
English
girth
“the measure around an object, especially in relation to size or dimension.”