Girdle - Dictionary Definition and Overview

Girdle :  (noun)
1: an encircling or ringlike structure
2: a band of material around the waist that strengthens a skirt or trousers [syn: cincture, sash, waistband, waistcloth]
3: a woman's close-fitting foundation garment [syn: corset, stays] (verb)
1: cut a girdle around so as to kill by interrupting the circulation of water and nutrients; "girdle the plant" [syn: deaden]
2: put a girdle on or around; "gird your loins" [syn: gird]

Based on WordNet 2.0

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.

2. To inclose; to environ; to shut in.

Those sleeping stones, That as a waist doth girdle you about. --Shak.

3. To make a cut or gnaw a groove around (a tree, etc.) through the bark and alburnum, thus killing it. [U. S.]

Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

Girdle : \Gir"dle\, n. A griddle. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.]

Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

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.] 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.

Within the girdle of these walls. --Shak.

Their breasts girded with golden girdles. --Rev. xv. 6.

2. The zodiac; also, the equator. [Poetic] --Bacon.

Based on the world's girdle to the frozen pole. --Cowper.

That gems the starry girdle of the year. --Campbell.

3. (Jewelry) The line ofgreatest circumference of a brilliant-cut diamond, at which it is grasped by the setting. See Illust. of Brilliant. --Knight.

4. (Mining) A thin bed or stratum of stone. --Raymond.

5. (Zo["o]l.) The clitellus of an earthworm.

Girdle bone (Anat.), the sphenethmoid. See under Sphenethmoid.

Girdle wheel, a spinning wheel.

Sea girdle (Zo["o]l.), 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.

Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

Girdle :  (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).



Based on Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Copyright 2009 wordIQ.com - Privacy Policy  :: Terms of Use  :: Contact Us  :: About Us