Girths

Girths are measurements that express the distance around an object or body, commonly called circumference. The term appears in several domains, where the relevant measurement is taken around a specific location.

In human and animal anatomy, girth measurements are used for clothing, medical assessment, and weight estimation. For people, common girths include chest (thoracic) girth, waist girth, and hip girth, used in garment construction and health monitoring. In veterinary and farm contexts, the chest or heart girth is measured around the thorax behind the front legs; this measurement helps estimate body weight and determine feed rations or medicine dosing, standardizing measurement with a tape measure. Measurements are typically taken with the subject standing and the tape snug but not compressing the skin, at a consistent time of day.

In forestry and botany, circumference around a tree trunk or branch is also called its girth. Tree girth is often measured at a standard height, such as 1.3 meters above ground, yielding a girth value that can be used to approximate diameter (DBH) or to monitor growth over time. In historical contexts, girth measurements have aided ecological and timber assessments.

In equestrian equipment, a saddle girth (or cinch) is a strap that goes around the animal’s barrel to secure the saddle; plural girths can refer to the set of straps used on a saddle or across multiple saddles.