From Middle English begirden, from Old English begyrdan (“to gird, clothe, surround, fortify”), from Proto-Germanic *bi- + *gurdijaną (“to gird”), equivalent to be- + gird. Cognate with Old High German begurtjan (“to begird”), Gothic 𐌱𐌹𐌲𐌰𐌹𐍂𐌳𐌰𐌽 (bigairdan, “to begird”). More at be-, gird.