Girth, as a noun, means the circumference of, or a band around, an object, animal or person.^[1][2] It can refer to the circumference of trees,^[3] or to a strap that goes around a horse to hold its saddle in place,^[4] but it is perhaps most commonly used in reference to a person's waist size.^[5]

In the Scots language, it has a slightly different meaning: protection or sanctuary, guaranteed by law, usually within a church or on church lands. A girth-cross marks the boundary of church lands, and a girth-house is a place where a fugitive would be safe from persecution.^[7]

When I created this account, I was widely known by friends and colleagues as Girth. It is similar to my real name, with a slight modification. I am Scottish, and wish that I could believe my friends called me this because they felt safe and protected in my company; I have a nagging suspicion however that they were referring to my waistline.

Summit means just that - the peak of a hill. I am an eager hillwalker, and confess to having an SMC guidebook, with ticks and dates against all the Munros I have bagged. Some of them even have little Ws against them, indicating a winter ascent. I wanted my username to look like a real name, and Summit seemed as good a word as any to use, particularly since it has a passing similarity to my actual surname.