The Collaborative International 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.]
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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. -
The zodiac; also, the equator. [Poetic]
--Bacon.From the world's girdle to the frozen pole.
--Cowper.That gems the starry girdle of the year.
--Campbell. (Jewelry) The line ofgreatest circumference of a brilliant-cut diamond, at which it is grasped by the setting. See Illust. of Brilliant.
--Knight.(Mining) A thin bed or stratum of stone.
--Raymond.-
(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.