Dictionary

A horizontal structural member of post and beam architecture, typically attached to bridge two or more vertical members such as corner posts.

To gird.

To bind horizontally, as with a belt or girdle.

To measure the girth of.

To bind with a flexible rope or cord.

Example: The fasces were girt about with twine in bundles large.

To encircle with, or as if with a belt.

Example: The lady girt herself with silver chain, from which she hung a golden shear.

To prepare oneself for an action.

To capsize because of forces in the cable attaching it to another vessel.

Bound by a cable; used of a vessel so moored by two anchors that she swings against one of the cables by force of the current or tide.

Relatively large in scale, size, extent, number (i.e. having many parts or members) or duration (i.e. relatively long); very big.

Example: A great storm is approaching our shores.

Of larger size or more importance than others of its kind.

Example: the great auk

(qualifying nouns of family relationship) Involving more generations than the qualified word implies — as many extra generations as repetitions of the word great (from 1510s). [see Derived terms]

Example: great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather, great-great-great-grandfather

(followed by 'with') Pregnant; large with young; full of.

Example: great with child