¹girdle

noun gir·dle \ˈgər-d^əl\

: something that wraps or circles around something else; specifically : a tight piece of clothing worn especially in the past by women under other clothes to make the area around the waist look thinner

Full Definition of GIRDLE

: something that encircles or confines: as

a : an article of dress encircling the body usually at the waist

b : a woman's close-fitting undergarment often boned and usually elasticized that extends from the waist to below the hips

c (1) : shoulder girdle (2) : pelvic girdle

: the edge of a brilliant that is grasped by the setting — see brilliant illustration

See girdle defined for English-language learners

See girdle defined for kids

Origin of GIRDLE

Middle English girdel, from Old English gyrdel; akin to Old High German gurtil girdle, Old English gyrdan to gird

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to GIRDLE

Synonyms: ceinture, cincture, cummerbund (also cumberbund), ²belt, sash, self-belt

Other Clothing Terms

babushka, brogue, bumbershoot, cravat, dishabille, furbelow, layette, raiment, spectator

Rhymes with GIRDLE

curdle, hurdle

²girdle

verb

: to form a circle around (something) or to surround (something)

gir·dledgir·dling \ˈgər-d^əl-iŋ\

Full Definition of GIRDLE

transitive verb

: to encircle with or as if with a girdle

: to cut away the bark and cambium in a ring around (a plant) usually to kill by interrupting the circulation of water and nutrients

: to move around : circle <girdled the world>

See girdle defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of GIRDLE

1582

Related to GIRDLE

Synonyms: band, begird, belt, engird [archaic], engirdle, enwind, gird, girt, girth, wrap

Antonyms: ungird, unwrap

Rhymes with GIRDLE

hurdle

GIRDLE Defined for Kids

¹girdle

noun gir·dle \ˈgər-d^əl\

Definition of GIRDLE for Kids

: something (as a belt or sash) that encircles or binds

: a tight undergarment worn below the waist by women

²girdle

verb

gir·dledgir·dling

Definition of GIRDLE for Kids

: to bind with or as if with a girdle, belt, or sash : encircle

: to strip a ring of bark from a tree trunk

Medical Dictionary

girdle

noun gir·dle \ˈgərd-^ə1\

Medical Definition of GIRDLE

: either of two more or less complete bony rings at the anterior and posterior ends of the vertebrate trunk supporting the arms and legs respectively: a : pectoral girdle b : pelvic girdle