girdle

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

Girdle \Gir"dle\, n.
   A griddle. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.]
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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.]
   [1913 Webster]
   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.
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            Within the girdle of these walls.     --Shak.
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            Their breasts girded with golden girdles. --Rev. xv.
                                                  6.
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   2. The zodiac; also, the equator. [Poetic] --Bacon.
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            From the world's girdle to the frozen pole.
                                                  --Cowper.
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            That gems the starry girdle of the year. --Campbell.
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   3. (Jewelry) The line ofgreatest circumference of a
      brilliant-cut diamond, at which it is grasped by the
      setting. See Illust. of {Brilliant}. --Knight.
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   4. (Mining) A thin bed or stratum of stone. --Raymond.
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   5. (Zool.) The clitellus of an earthworm.
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   {Girdle bone} (Anat.), the sphenethmoid. See under
      {Sphenethmoid}.

   {Girdle wheel}, a spinning wheel.

   {Sea girdle} (Zool.), 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.
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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.
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   2. To inclose; to environ; to shut in.
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            Those sleeping stones,
            That as a waist doth girdle you about. --Shak.
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   3. To make a cut or gnaw a groove around (a tree, etc.)
      through the bark and alburnum, thus killing it. [U. S.]
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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).
    

180 Moby Thesaurus words for "girdle":
      Mystik tape, Scotch tape, adhesive tape, advocate, alpenstock,
      anklet, arm, armlet, athletic supporter, back, backbone, backing,
      band, bandage, bandeau, batten, bearer, begird, belt, belt in,
      bend, beset, bind, bind up, bra, brace, bracelet, bracer, bracket,
      brassiere, bundle, buttress, cane, carrier, cellophane tape,
      cervix, chain, cinch, cincture, cingulum, circle, circuit,
      circuiteer, circulate, circumambulate, circummigrate,
      circumnavigate, circumvent, close the circle, cloth tape, collar,
      collarband, come full circle, compass, corselet, corset, crook,
      crutch, cycle, describe a circle, do up, earring, ecliptic,
      encincture, encircle, encompass, engird, ensphere, equator, fascia,
      fillet, finger ring, flank, foundation garment, friction tape,
      fulcrum, gird, girdle the globe, girt, girth, go about, go around,
      go round, go the round, great circle, guy, guywire, gyre, hem,
      hoop, jock, jockstrap, lace, lap, lash, lath, leash, ligula,
      ligule, list, loop, mainstay, maintainer, make a circuit,
      masking tape, mast, neck, neckband, necklace, nose ring, orbit,
      plank, plastic tape, prop, quoit, reinforce, reinforcement,
      reinforcer, rest, resting place, revolve, ribband, ribbon, rigging,
      ring, rope, round, sash, shoulder, shred, shroud, skirt, slat,
      slip, spill, spine, spiral, splice, spline, sprit, staff,
      standing rigging, stave, stay, stays, stick, stiffener, strake,
      strap, strengthener, strip, strop, support, supporter, surround,
      sustainer, swaddle, swathe, taenia, tape, tape measure, tapeline,
      ticker tape, tie, tie up, truss, twine around, upholder, waistband,
      walking stick, wheel, wire, wrap, wrap up, wreathe, wreathe around,
      wristband, wristlet, zodiac, zone