gir

n. [ F. girafe, Sp. girafa, from Ar. zurāfa, zarāfa. ] (Zool.) An African ruminant (Giraffa camelopardalis formerly Camelopardalis giraffa) related to the deers and antelopes, but placed in a family (Giraffidae) by itself; the camelopard. It is the tallest of quadriped animals, being sometimes twenty feet from the hoofs to the top of the head. Its neck is very long, and its fore legs are much longer than its hind legs. There are three types, having different patterns of spots on the pelt and different territories: the Reticulated Giraffe, the Masai Giraffe, and the Uganda Giraffe. Intermediate crosses are also observed. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

prop. n. The natural family of mammals including the giraffes.
Syn. -- family Giraffidae. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ F. See Gyrate. ] 1. An ornate ornamental branched candlestick, often with a mirror at the back. [ wns=1 ] [ 1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5 ]

2. A flower stand, fountain, or the like, of branching form. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Pyrotechny) A kind of revolving firework. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Fort.) A series of chambers in defensive mines. Farrow.

{ } n. [ It. girasole, or F. girasol, fr. L. gyrare to turn around + sol sun. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. (Bot.) See Heliotrope. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Min.) A variety of opal which is usually milk white, bluish white, or sky blue; but in a bright light it reflects a reddish color. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Yard a measure. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. A stroke with a rod or switch; a severe spasm; a twinge; a pang. [ 1913 Webster ]

Conscience . . . is freed from many fearful girds and twinges which the atheist feels. Tillotson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A cut; a sarcastic remark; a gibe; a sneer. [ 1913 Webster ]

I thank thee for that gird, good Tranio. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ See Gird, n., and cf. Girde, v. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To strike; to smite. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

To slay him and to girden off his head. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To sneer at; to mock; to gibe. [ 1913 Webster ]

Being moved, he will not spare to gird the gods. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To gibe; to sneer; to break a scornful jest; to utter severe sarcasms. [ 1913 Webster ]

Men of all sorts take a pride to gird at me. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Girt r Girded; p. pr. & vb. n. Girding. ] [ OE. girden, gurden, AS. gyrdan; akin to OS. gurdian, D. gorden, OHG. gurten, G. gürten, Icel. gyrða, Sw. gjorda, Dan. giorde, Goth. bigaírdan 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To make fast, as clothing, by binding with a cord, girdle, bandage, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To surround; to encircle, or encompass. [ 1913 Webster ]

That Nyseian isle,
Girt with the River Triton. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To clothe; to swathe; to invest. [ 1913 Webster ]

I girded thee about with fine linen. Ezek. xvi. 10. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Son . . . appeared
Girt with omnipotence. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To prepare; to make ready; to equip; as, to gird one's self for a contest. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thou hast girded me with strength. Ps. xviii. 39. [ 1913 Webster ]

To gird on, to put on; to fasten around or to one securely, like a girdle; as, to gird on armor or a sword. [ 1913 Webster ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ] He girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab. 1 Kings xviii. 46. [ 1913 Webster ] 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. [ 1913 Webster ]