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The Collaborative International Dictionary
To have under the girdle

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.

    From 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.