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.]
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   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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