noun

girdle

GURDL

Girdle (noun) means a belt or band worn around the waist, especially one that supports stockings. Example: “She wore an old-fashioned girdle under her dress.”

noun

A belt or band worn around the waist, especially one that supports stockings.

"She wore an old-fashioned girdle under her dress."

"The girdle held her stockings snugly in place."

A tight, shaping undergarment worn to slim the waist, hips, or thighs.

"The dancer squeezed into a girdle before the show."

verb

To encircle or bind something tightly around, as with a belt.

"A low stone wall girdles the old churchyard."

(of a tree) To cut a ring of bark from the trunk, usually to kill it.

"Beavers had girdled several young trees near the pond."

How to use girdle

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA belt-like band around the waist — either a piece of clothing or the act of encircling something tightly.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with "girdle" the diamond term (the widest edge of a cut gem) — same word, very different context.

Common pairings

wear a girdle girdle a tree girdle the waist

Word forms

girdled past tense, girdles plural, girdles singular

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She wore an old-fashioned _____ under her dress.

Etymology

From Old English gyrdel, related to gird ("to bind"); the same Germanic root gives German Gürtel ("belt").

Origin: Old English

Synonyms

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stays sash corset waistband gird deaden cincture waistcloth

Related words

arm belt stays ribbon sash cincture corset deaden

Frequently asked questions

What does “girdle” mean?

The word “girdle” means a belt or band worn around the waist, especially one that supports stockings. In plain terms, a belt-like band around the waist — either a piece of clothing or the act of encircling something tightly.

How do you pronounce “girdle”?

“Girdle” is pronounced GURDL (/ˈɡɝdl̩/ in IPA).

How do you use “girdle” in a sentence?

Here is “girdle” used in a sentence: “She wore an old-fashioned girdle under her dress.”

What part of speech is “girdle”?

Depending on how it is used, “girdle” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “girdle” come from?

The word “girdle” comes from Old English. From Old English gyrdel, related to gird ("to bind"); the same Germanic root gives German Gürtel ("belt").

How many meanings does “girdle” have?

“Girdle” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a belt or band worn around the waist, especially one that supports stockings.

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