girdle

[gur-dl] /ˈgɜr dl/

noun

a lightweight undergarment, worn especially by women, often partly or entirely of elastic or boned, for supporting and giving a slimmer appearance to the abdomen, hips, and buttocks.

a belt, cord, sash, or the like, worn about the waist.

anything that encircles, confines, or limits.

Jewelry. the edge or narrow band between the upper and lower facets of a gem.

Anatomy. the bony framework that unites the upper or lower extremities to the axial skeleton.

Architecture. an ornamental band, especially one surrounding the shaft of a column.

a ring made about a tree trunk, branch, etc., by removing a band of bark.

verb (used with object), girdled, girdling.

to encircle with a belt; gird.

to encompass; enclose; encircle.

10.

to move around (something or someone) in a circle.

11.

to cut away the bark and cambium in a ring around (a tree, branch, etc.).

12.

Jewelry. round (def 51).

Origin

before 1000; Middle English; Old English gyrdel, derivative of girdan to gird¹

Related forms

girdlelike, adjective

girdlingly, adverb

ungirdle, verb (used with object), ungirdled, ungirdling.

Synonyms

3. belt, circle, ring, band, hedge.

Examples from the web for girdle

We've already been tweaked with new, fun versions of false eyelashes and the girdle.
They also spin a kind of harness or girdle around the back.
Orthodoxy will become a girdle rather than a defence.
Made of lightweight microfibers, the thongs are a far cry from your grandma's breath-stopping girdle.
In these girdle-tightening times, it's also refreshingly affordable.
The scapula forms the posterior part of the shoulder girdle.
And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.
She wore continually a hair shirt, and a girdle of horse-hair.
And he undid her maiden girdle, and shed a slumber over her.
It is the girdle which holds up the garment and gives it all its folds.

British Dictionary definitions for girdle

girdle¹

/ˈɡɜːdəl/

noun

a woman's elastic corset covering the waist to the thigh

anything that surrounds or encircles

a belt or sash

(jewellery) the outer edge of a gem

(anatomy) any encircling structure or part See pectoral girdle, pelvic girdle

the mark left on a tree trunk after the removal of a ring of bark

verb (transitive)

to put a girdle on or around

to surround or encircle

to remove a ring of bark from (a tree or branch), thus causing it to die

Derived Forms

girdle-like, adjective

Word Origin

Old English gyrdel, of Germanic origin; related to Old Norse gyrthill, Old Frisian gerdel, Old High German gurtila; see gird1

girdle²

/ˈɡɜːdəl/

noun

(Scot & Northern English, dialect) another word for griddle

Word Origin and History for girdle

Old English gyrdel "belt, sash, cord about the waist," common Germanic. (cf. Old Norse gyrðill, Swedish gördel, Old Frisian gerdel, Dutch gordel, Old High German gurtil, German Gürtel "belt"), related to Old English gyrdan "to gird" (see gird). Modern euphemistic sense of "elastic corset" first recorded 1925. The verb meaning "encircle with a girdle" is attested from 1580s. Meaning "to cut off a belt of bark around a trunk to kill a tree" is from 1660s. Related: Girdled; girdling.

girdle in Medicine

girdle gir·dle (gûr'dl)
n.

Something that encircles like a belt.
An elasticized, flexible undergarment worn over the waist and hips.
The pelvic or pectoral girdle.

girdle in Science

girdle

(gûr'dl)
To kill a tree or woody shrub by removing or destroying a band of bark and cambium from its circumference. The plants die because the distribution of food down from the leaves (through the phloem) and sometimes the flow of water and nutrients up from the roots (through the xylem) is disrupted, and the cambium can no longer regenerate these vascular tissues to repair the damage. Unwanted trees, such as invasive or nonnative species, are often eliminated by girdling. Some plant diseases kill trees by destroying a ring of cambium and so girdling them. Gnawing animals, especially rodents, can also girdle trees.

girdle in the Bible

(1.) Heb. hagor, a girdle of any kind worn by soldiers (1 Sam. 18:4; 2 Sam. 20:8; 1 Kings 2:5; 2 Kings 3:21) or women (Isa. 3:24). (2.) Heb. 'ezor, something "bound," worn by prophets (2 Kings 1:8; Jer. 13:1), soldiers (Isa. 5:27; 2 Sam. 20:8; Ezek. 23:15), Kings (Job 12:18). (3.) Heb. mezah, a "band," a girdle worn by men alone (Ps. 109:19; Isa. 22:21). (4.) Heb. 'abnet, the girdle of sacerdotal and state officers (Ex. 28:4, 39, 40; 29:9; 39:29). (5.) Heb. hesheb, the "curious girdle" (Ex. 28:8; R.V., "cunningly woven band") was attached to the ephod, and was made of the same material. The common girdle was made of leather (2 Kings 1:8; Matt. 3:4); a finer sort of linen (Jer. 13:1; Ezek. 16:10; Dan. 10:5). Girdles of sackcloth were worn in token of sorrow (Isa. 3:24; 22:12). They were variously fastened to the wearer (Mark 1:6; Jer. 13:1; Ezek. 16:10). The girdle was a symbol of strength and power (Job 12:18, 21; 30:11; Isa. 22:21; 45:5). "Righteousness and faithfulness" are the girdle of the Messiah (Isa. 11:5). Girdles were used as purses or pockets (Matt. 10:9. A. V., "purses;" R.V., marg., "girdles." Also Mark 6:8).