An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Gurt

by Friedrich Kluge

Gurt, masculine, ‘girth, girdle,’ from the equivalent Middle High German gurt (in compounds über-, umbe-, under-gurt); allied to gürten from the equivalent Middle High German gürten (gurten), Old High German gurten (gurtjan); compare Old Saxon gurdian, Dutch gorden, Anglo-Saxon gyrdan, English to gird; in Gothic gairdan, strong verb ‘to gird.’ With the root gerd contained in these words are connected Old Icelandic garðr, ‘fence round the farm,’ Old Slovenian gradŭ, ‘wall, town’ (see Garten, and respecting the evolution of meaning see Zaun). —