Definition of girth

The origin of the word "girth" can be traced back to the Old Norse language, which was spoken by the Vikings. The Old Norse word "girðr" meant "belt" or "girdle," and it was used to describe the part of a horse's harness that encircled its belly and held the saddle in place. The Old Norse word "girðr" was eventually introduced into the Old English language, where it was adapted to "gīrð" and used in a similar context to describe the horse's waistline. Over time, the English spelling and pronunciation of the word evolved, resulting in the modern spelling and pronunciation of "girth." Thus, the word "girth" in English now refers to the circumference of a horse's belly or the strap used to measure it, as well as the measurement itself. Its origins, however, lie far back in the Old Norse vocabulary of Viking Age Scandinavia.