girdle

American  

[gur-dl] / ˈgɜr dl /

noun

1. 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.

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

3. anything that encircles, confines, or limits.

   Synonyms:

   hedge, band, ring, circle, belt

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

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

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

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

---

verb (used with object)

girdled, girdling

1. to encircle with a belt; gird.

2. to encompass; enclose; encircle.

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

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

5. Jewelry. round.

girdle ¹ British  

/ ˈɡɜːdəl /

noun

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

2. anything that surrounds or encircles

3. a belt or sash

4. jewellery the outer edge of a gem

5. anatomy any encircling structure or part See pectoral girdle pelvic girdle

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

---

verb

1. to put a girdle on or around

2. to surround or encircle

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

girdle ² British  

/ ˈɡɜːdəl /

noun

1. dialect another word for griddle

---

girdle Scientific  

/ gûr′dl /

1. 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.

---

Other Word Forms

• girdle-like
  adjective
• girdlelike
  adjective
• girdlingly
  adverb
• ungirdle
  verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of girdle

before 1000; Middle English; Old English gyrdel, derivative of girdan to gird ¹

Explanation

A girdle is a tight-fitting undergarment that supports the lower body. The purpose of a girdle is to make a person's waist and stomach look smaller and firmer. Girdles are thought of as old-fashioned ladies' underwear these days, though they are still worn by some — and many others wear "foundation garments" that are essentially modern girdles. Before the late 1960s, many women wore girdles, until the availability around that time of control-top pantyhose. Another kind of girdle is simply a ring that encircles something — a belt, a band of bark around a tree, or the Earth's equator.

Example Sentences

The sword belt from 1937, also known as the Coronation Girdle, is made of embroidered cloth of gold and has a gold buckle stamped with national emblems.

From BBC • May 1, 2023

Sunday starting at noon, Caramoor Jazz Festival, 149 Girdle Ridge Road, Katonah, N.Y., 914-232-1252, caramoor.org; $15 to $65; some performances are sold out.

From New York Times • Jul. 24, 2014

Figure 11.22 Muscles That Position the Pectoral Girdle The muscles that stabilize the pectoral girdle make it a steady base on which other muscles can move the arm.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

Mariam Ma, who created the Canadian-based online warehouse Mens Girdle Store last year, says the things are selling not just to lumpy 40-somethings but to slim young dudes who want a perfect silhouette.

From Washington Post • Aug. 19, 2010

Girdle: such an ugly word, a word as gross as what it does.

From "I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter" by Erika L. Sánchez

Related Words

• waistband