well-girt, ppl. a.
Firmly encircled or secured by a girdle or girth; esp., after Gr. εὔζωνος (ἀνήρ), girt up for exercise, in good trim for walking; hence fig. (of time) strenuously bestowed.
| 1647 N. Ward Simple Cobler 88 A well-girt houre gives every man content. 1798 Wordsw. Idiot Boy 39 The well-girt saddle. 1816 Southey Poet's Pilgr. i. iii. 1 Some three hours' journey for a well-girt man. 1845 Ford Handbk. Spain i. 57 To be Homerically well girt..is half the battle for the traveller in Spain. 1881 Saintsbury Dryden i. 3 A well-girt man can survey the whole in a day's walk. |
b. transf. of a building or stronghold.
| 1756 Home Douglas iv. i, The trembling mothers, and their children [are] lodg'd In well-girt towers and castles. |