Dictionary-Definition.com :: Girdle definition

Definition of 'girdle'

noun

An encircling or ringlike structure

noun

A band of material around the waist that strengthens a skirt or trousers [syn: girdle, cincture, sash, waistband, waistcloth]

noun

A woman's close-fitting foundation garment [syn: corset, girdle, stays]

verb

Cut a girdle around so as to kill by interrupting the circulation of water and nutrients; "girdle the plant" [syn: girdle, deaden]

verb

Put a girdle on or around; "gird your loins" [syn: girdle, gird]

From: GCIDE

From: GCIDE

Girdle \Gir"dle\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Girdled; p. pr. & vb. n. Girdling.]
1. To bind with a belt or sash; to gird. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
2. To inclose; to environ; to shut in. [1913 Webster]
Those sleeping stones, That as a waist doth girdle you about. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
3. To make a cut or gnaw a groove around (a tree, etc.) through the bark and alburnum, thus killing it. [U. S.] [1913 Webster]

From: GCIDE

Girdle \Gir"dle\, n. [OE. gurdel, girdel, AS. gyrdel, fr. gyrdan; akin to D. gordel, G. g["u]rtel, Icel. gyr?ill. See Gird, v. t., to encircle, and cf. Girth, n.] [1913 Webster]
1. That which girds, encircles, or incloses; a circumference; a belt; esp., a belt, sash, or article of dress encircling the body usually at the waist; a cestus. [1913 Webster]
Within the girdle of these walls. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Their breasts girded with golden girdles. --Rev. xv. 6. [1913 Webster]
2. The zodiac; also, the equator. [Poetic] --Bacon. [1913 Webster]
From the world's girdle to the frozen pole. --Cowper. [1913 Webster]
That gems the starry girdle of the year. --Campbell. [1913 Webster]
3. (Jewelry) The line ofgreatest circumference of a brilliant-cut diamond, at which it is grasped by the setting. See Illust. of Brilliant. --Knight. [1913 Webster]
4. (Mining) A thin bed or stratum of stone. --Raymond. [1913 Webster]
5. (Zool.) The clitellus of an earthworm. [1913 Webster]
Girdle bone (Anat.), the sphenethmoid. See under Sphenethmoid.
Girdle wheel, a spinning wheel.
Sea girdle (Zool.), a ctenophore. See Venus's girdle, under Venus.
Shoulder, Pectoral, & Pelvic, girdle. (Anat.) See under Pectoral, and Pelvic.
To have under the girdle, to have bound to one, that is, in subjection. [1913 Webster]

From: GCIDE

Girdle \Gir"dle\, n. [OE. gurdel, girdel, AS. gyrdel, fr. gyrdan; akin to D. gordel, G. g["u]rtel, Icel. gyr?ill. See Gird, v. t., to encircle, and cf. Girth, n.] [1913 Webster]
1. That which girds, encircles, or incloses; a circumference; a belt; esp., a belt, sash, or article of dress encircling the body usually at the waist; a cestus. [1913 Webster]
Within the girdle of these walls. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Their breasts girded with golden girdles. --Rev. xv. 6. [1913 Webster]
2. The zodiac; also, the equator. [Poetic] --Bacon. [1913 Webster]
From the world's girdle to the frozen pole. --Cowper. [1913 Webster]
That gems the starry girdle of the year. --Campbell. [1913 Webster]
3. (Jewelry) The line ofgreatest circumference of a brilliant-cut diamond, at which it is grasped by the setting. See Illust. of Brilliant. --Knight. [1913 Webster]
4. (Mining) A thin bed or stratum of stone. --Raymond. [1913 Webster]
5. (Zool.) The clitellus of an earthworm. [1913 Webster]
Girdle bone (Anat.), the sphenethmoid. See under Sphenethmoid.
Girdle wheel, a spinning wheel.
Sea girdle (Zool.), a ctenophore. See Venus's girdle, under Venus.
Shoulder, Pectoral, & Pelvic, girdle. (Anat.) See under Pectoral, and Pelvic.
To have under the girdle, to have bound to one, that is, in subjection. [1913 Webster]

Girdle
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).
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).
Heb. mezah, a "band," a girdle worn by men alone (Ps. 109:19; Isa. 22:21).
Heb. 'abnet, the girdle of sacerdotal and state officers (Ex. 28:4, 39, 40; 29:9; 39:29).
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).