begird

Verb

begird (third-person singular simple present begirds, present participle begirding, simple past and past participle begirt or begirded)

1. (archaic, transitive) To bind with a band or girdle; to gird.
   • [A] Sagamore with a Humberd in his eare for a pendant, a black havvke on his occiput for his plume, Movvhackees for his gold chaine, good ſtore of VVampompeage begirting his loynes, his bovv in his hand, his quiver at his back, vvith ſix naked Indian ſplatterlaſhes at his heeles for his guard...1634, William Wood, “Of Their Apparell, Ornaments, Paintings, and Other Artificiall Deckings”, in New Englands Prospect. A True, Lively, and Experimentall Description of that Part of America...
   • He was begirt with a clean linen apron which fell below his knees […]1768, Mr. Yorick [pseudonym; Laurence Sterne], A Sentimental Journey through France and Italy, volume II, London: […] T. Becket and P. A. De Hondt, […], →OCLC, page 49
2. (archaic, transitive) To encircle, surround, as with a gird; enclose; encompass.
   • […] I will stand my self
     for the whole Regiment, and safer far
     in mine owne single valour, then begirt
     with cowards and with traitors.c. 1620s, John Webster, Appius and Virginia, London, published 1654, Act II, Scene 1, pp. 16-17
   • Who having round begirt the Palace, / (As once a moth they do the Gallows) / As Members gave the sign about / Set up their throats with hideous shout.1662 (indicated as 1663), [Samuel Butler], “[The First Part of Hudibras]. Canto II.”, in Hudibras. The First and Second Parts. […], London: […] John Martyn and Henry Herringman, […], published 1678...