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Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)

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First published 1956 (SND Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

GIRTH, n.² Also †gerth, grith.

1. Security, protection, safety, asylum (gen. within a church) guaranteed by law, freq. in phr. girth and sanctuary: “the protection given to one who after killing without malice aforethought reached sanctuary” (A. D. Gibb Sc. Legal Terms); also the place of sanctuary. Now only in place-names. Hist.Peb. 1715 A. Pennecuik Descr. Twd. 98:
Since it is so, that thou has taen thy girth herein.Sc. 1774 T. Pennant Tour 1772 251:
The precinct of these tombs . . . enjoyed the privileges of a Girth or Sanctuary.Sc. 1797 D. Hume Punishment of Crimes I. 365:
It was the appointment of those laws, that the manslayer on suddenty was to have the benefit of the girth or sanctuary.Sc. 1828 Scott F. M. Perth ix.:
Three or four men . . . came this morning before daylight to ask the privilege of girth and sanctuary.

Combs.: (1) girth-cross, a cross marking the boundary of church lands, hence a place of sanctuary; (2) girth gate, see second quot.; (3) girth-house, a house of sanctuary; (4) girth-stane, a stone marking out the boundary of a sanctuary (w.Lth. 1948).(1) Abd. 1725 W. Orem Descr. Old Abd. (1782) 24:
This cathedral had an asylum, a girth or sanctuary, and girth-cross. . . . If the manslayer came to the girth-cross he could be no further pursued, but the clergy received him into the cathedral-church.Edb. 1779 H. Arnot Hist. Edb. 304:
A fourth [cross in the Canongate] called the Girth cross, from its being the boundary of the sanctuary.Edb. 1895 “S. Tytler” Kincaid's Widow viii.:
She suffered at the girth-cross by the Maiden.Sc. 1927 W. D. Simpson St Columba 99:
It [an early Christian stone at Whithorn] was probably a termon or girth cross, marking the boundaries of the monastic lands.(2) Sc. 1820 Scott Monastery iii.:
Haud your peace! Think what ye're saying, and we hae sae muckle wild land to go over before we win to the girth gate.m.Lth. 1845 Stat. Acc.² I. 536:
A causeway leading from the vale of the Tweed to Soutra, . . . bore the significant name of Girth-gate, meaning the asylum or sanctuary road.(3) Ork. 1866 A. Pope Ancient Hist. Ork. & the North 108:
The temple of Orphir or Gerth-house, was a rotunda 22 feet in diameter and 16 feet . . . above ground.

2. Fig. Sympathetic reception, comfort.Ork. 1929 Marw.:
Of some one going to lay his troubles before another — “He'll get little grith there.”