surcingle, n.
(ˈsɜːsɪŋg(ə)l)
Forms: 4–7 sursengle, 5 surcyngylle, sorseynggle, 6 sursyngle, -cyngle, 6–8 sursingle, (7 erron. sussingle, 7, 9 circingle), 7– surcingle.
[a. OF. sur-, so(u)rcengle, -sangle: see sur- and cingle.]
1. A girth for a horse or other animal; esp. a large girth passing over a sheet, pack, etc. and keeping it in place on the animal's back.
| 1390 Earl Derby's Exped. (Camden) 13 Et pro viij burrewez, j sursengle, et j pare raynes. 1470–85 Malory Arthur vii. xvi. 238 And eyther smote other in myddes of their sheldes that the paytrellys sursenglys and crowpers braste. 1553 in Kempe Losely MSS. (1836) 139, 7 great horses, with horse cloths, sursyngles, bytts, hed stalls, &c. 1600 Surflet Country Farm i. xxviii. 177 To haue their cloathes put vpon their backes, either the linnen one to keepe the flies away, or else the woollen one to keepe them warme, and that they suffer him to make the same fast with a surcingle. 1668 Worlidge Syst. Agric., Dict. Rust. 276 A Sussingle, a large Girt that Carriers use to binde or fasten their Packs withal. 1695 Lond. Gaz. No. 3132/4 One brown Gelding..some sign of a Sursingle tied across his Back, also a Curb on his near Hock. c 1720 W. Gibson Farrier's Guide ii. lxv. (1738) 220 A Strap may be fixed to the Breast-cloth, which may pass between his Fore-legs and be fastened to his Sursingle. 1816 Scott Bl. Dwarf x, ‘Thou maun do without horse-sheet and surcingle now, lad,’ he said, addressing the animal. 1882 Manchester Weekly Times 25 Mar. 8/2 A surcingle was drawn over Jumbo's back. 1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Col. Reformer I. 151 Have you no cavesson, or breaking-bit, or web surcingle? |
b. (See quot.)
| 1801 Felton Carriages Gloss., Surcingle, a leather strap and buckle, sewed to a chaise saddle, the same as a belly band to a housing. |
2. A girdle or belt which confines the cassock. Now rare.
| 1672 Marvell Reh. Transp. i. 68 This Gentleman.. stragling by Temple-bar, in a massy Cassock and Surcingle. a 1683 Oldham Wks. (1686) 75 Cassock, Sursingle, and shaven Crown. 1728 Pope Dunc. ii. 350 Each rev'rend Bard arose; And Milbourn chief..Gave him the cassock, surcingle, and vest. 1837 Barham Ingol. Leg. Ser. i. Grey Dolphin, He drew the buckle of his surcingle..tighter. |
Hence † surcingled pa. pple., fastened or girded with a surcingle; † surcingler (nonce-wd.), one who wears a surcingle, a clergyman; † surcingling (nonce-wd.), a flogging with a surcingle.
| 1598 Bp. Hall Sat. iv. vi, Some pannel..Sursingled to a galled hackney's hide. 1647 Ward Simple Cobler (1843) 27 Comparing the..splender wherewith our Gentle-women were imbellished.., with the gut-foundred goosdom, wherewith they are now surcingled. 1654 Gayton Pleas. Notes iii. i. 67 Indeed dry-bastings, cudgelings, surcinglings were too mean for a Knight. 1662 Tryal T. Tonge 6 That there should be never a Lawn-Sleeve, never a Sursingler should have a hole to hide his head in. |