v. Obs. Also 7–8 ingirt. [f. EN-1 + GIRT v.]
1. trans. To gird, encircle with. Also simply.
1590. Marlowe, Edw. II., V. i. (1594), I 3. Engirt the temples of his hatefull head.
1613. Purchas, Pilgr., VI. xiv. § 1. 537 (R.). The insulting waters … engirting meane while all the townes with a strait siege.
1634. Sir T. Herbert, Trav., 146. The coat … ingirted with a towell of silke and gold.
2. To surround as a girdle does; to encircle. Also fig.
15[?]. in Farr, S. P. Eliz. (1845), II. 423. So feruent griefe engirts the King of Glory.
1599. Nashe, Lenten Stuffe (1871), 33. This flinty ring that ingirts it.
1613–6. W. Browne, Brit. Past., II. i. (1625), 34–5 (R.). She prepar’d to cut the watry Zone Ingirting Albion.
1742. Collins, Ode, iv. 28. And [God] pour’d the main engirting all.
b. To enclose partially or wholly; to hem in; to envelope.
1627. May, Lucan, III. 591 (1631), E 4 b. They make their hornes t’engirt the adverse fleet.
1634. T. Johnson, trans. Parey’s Chirurg., III. iv. (1678), 57. The skin is double … ingirting the whole body.
Hence Engirting vbl. sb., the action of the vb. ENGIRT; concr. that which engirts, the rim.
1599. Nashe, Lenten Stuffe (1871), 17. In the ninth year of the ingirting his anointed brows with the refulgent Ophir circle.
1623. trans. Favine’s Theat. Hon., VI. ix. 159. An other Circle, which made the engirting of the Seale.
