What is "to gird up"

Gird \Gird\ (g[~e]rd), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Girtor Girded; p. pr. & vb. n. Girding.] [OE. girden, gurden, AS. gyrdan; akin to OS. gurdian, D. gorden, OHG. gurten, G. g["u]rten, Icel. gyr[eth]a, Sw. gjorda, Dan. giorde, Goth. biga['i]rdan to begird, and prob. to E. yard an inclosure. Cf. Girth, n. & v., Girt, v. t.]

1. To encircle or bind with any flexible band.

2. To make fast, as clothing, by binding with a cord, girdle, bandage, etc.

3. To surround; to encircle, or encompass.

   That Nyseian isle, Girt with the River Triton.
   --Milton.

4. To clothe; to swathe; to invest.

   I girded thee about with fine linen.
   --Ezek. xvi. 10.

   The Son . . . appeared Girt with omnipotence.
   --Milton.

5. To prepare; to make ready; to equip; as, to gird one's self for a contest.

   Thou hast girded me with strength.
   --Ps. xviii. 39.

   To gird on, to put on; to fasten around or to one securely, like a girdle; as, to gird on armor or a sword.

   Let not him that girdeth on his harness boast himself as he that putteth it off.
   --1 Kings xx. 11.

   To gird up, to bind tightly with a girdle; to support and strengthen, as with a girdle.

   He girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab.
   --1 Kings xviii. 4

6. Gird up the loins of your mind.
   --1 Pet. i. 13.

   Girt up; prepared or equipped, as for a journey or for work, in allusion to the ancient custom of gathering the long flowing garments into the girdle and tightening it before any exertion; hence, adjectively, eagerly or constantly active; strenuous; striving. ``A severer, more girt-up way of living.''
   --J. C. Shairp.