Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Gird \Gird\, n. [See {Yard} a measure.]
   1. A stroke with a rod or switch; a severe spasm; a twinge; a
      pang.

            Conscience . . . is freed from many fearful girds
            and twinges which the atheist feels.  --Tillotson.

   2. A cut; a sarcastic remark; a gibe; a sneer.

            I thank thee for that gird, good Tranio. --Shak.

Gird \Gird\, v. t. [See {Gird}, n., and cf. {Girde}, v.]
   1. To strike; to smite. [Obs.]

            To slay him and to girden off his head. --Chaucer.

   2. To sneer at; to mock; to gibe.

            Being moved, he will not spare to gird the gods.
                                                  --Shak.

Gird \Gird\, v. i.
   To gibe; to sneer; to break a scornful jest; to utter severe
   sarcasms.

         Men of all sorts take a pride to gird at me. --Shak.

Gird \Gird\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Girt}or {Girded}; p. pr. & vb.
   n. {Girding}.] [OE. girden, gurden, AS. gyrdan; akin to OS.
   gurdian, D. gorden, OHG. gurten, G. g["u]rten, Icel. gyr?a,
   Sw. gjorda, Dan. giorde, Goth. biga['i]rdan 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.

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

   3. To surround; to encircle, or encompass.

            That Nyseian isle, Girt with the River Triton.
                                                  --Milton.

   4. To clothe; to swathe; to invest.

            I girded thee about with fine linen.  --Ezek. xvi.
                                                  10.

            The Son . . . appeared Girt with omnipotence.
                                                  --Milton.

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

            Thou hast girded me with strength.    --Ps. xviii.
                                                  39.

   {To gird on}, to put on; to fasten around or to one securely,
      like a girdle; as, to gird on armor or a sword.

            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.

            He girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab. --1
                                                  Kings xviii.
                                                  46.

            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.

Source : WordNet®

gird
     v 1: prepare oneself for a military confrontation; "The U.S. is
          girding for a conflict in the Middle East"; "troops are
          building up on the Iraqui border" [syn: {arm}, {build up},
           {fortify}] [ant: {disarm}]
     2: encircle or bind; "Trees girded the green fields" [syn: {girth},
         {girt}, {begird}]
     3: put a girdle on or around; "gird your loins" [syn: {girdle}]
     4: bind with something round or circular [syn: {encircle}]
     [also: {girt}]