surcingle

American  

[sur-sing-guhl] / ˈsɜrˌsɪŋ gəl /

noun

1. a belt or girth that passes around the belly of a horse and over the blanket, pack, saddle, etc., and is buckled on the horse's back.

2. a beltlike fastening for a garment, especially a cassock.

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surcingle British  

/ ˈsɜːˌsɪŋɡəl /

noun

1. a girth for a horse which goes around the body, used esp with a racing saddle

2. the belt worn with a cassock

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verb

1. to put a surcingle on or over (a horse)

Etymology

Origin of surcingle

1350–1400; Middle English surcengle < Middle French, equivalent to sur- sur- ¹ + cengle belt < Latin cingulum; see cingulum

Example Sentences

Then put a surcingle around his body, and fasten one end of a long strap around the other fore-leg, just above the hoof.

From A New Illustrated Edition of J. S. Rarey's Art of Taming Horses With the Substance of the Lectures at the Round House, and Additional Chapters on Horsemanship and Hunting, for the Young and Timid by Rarey, J. S. (John Solomon)

A broad surcingle of woollen webbing keeps the whole in place.

From Journeys in Persia and Kurdistan, Volume II (of 2) Including a Summer in the Upper Karun Region and a Visit to the Nestorian Rayahs by Bird, Isabella L. (Isabella Lucy)

The surcingle is then buckled over the saddle, and should be a little looser than the cincha.

From Manual for Noncommissioned Officers and Privates of Cavalry of the Army of the United States 1917 to be also used by Engineer Companies (Mounted) for Cavalry Instruction and Training by Department, U. S. War

The saddle was the next slow process—a surcingle, a folded blanket and cinch, a double blanket and cinch, a bag of oats and cinch and, finally, the saddle and rider.

From The Preacher of Cedar Mountain A Tale of the Open Country by Seton, Ernest Thompson

George now unloosened the long reins which were attached to the heavy surcingle, and after walking the animal two or three times round the circle, suffered him to go free.

From That Boy Of Norcott's by Lever, Charles James