girdle1

 
Pronunciation: /ˈgəːd(ə)l/

noun

  • 1a belt or cord worn round the waist: her waist was defined by a gold chain girdle
  • a thing that encircles something like a girdle: a communications girdle around the world
  • Anatomy either of two sets of bones encircling the body, to which the limbs are attached. See pectoral girdle, pelvic girdle.
  • 2a woman’s elasticated corset extending from waist to thigh: she wears corsets and girdles, tight and uncomfortable
  • 3the part of a cut gem dividing the crown from the base and embraced by the setting.
  • 4a ring made around a tree by removing bark.

verb

[with object]
  • 1encircle (the body) with a girdle: the Friar loosened the rope that girdled his waist
  • surround; encircle: the chain of volcanoes which girdles the Pacific
  • 2cut through the bark all the way round (a tree or branch), typically in order to kill it: sometimes the trees were completely girdled and died

Origin:

Old English gyrdel, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch gordel and German Gürtel, also to gird1 and girth