noun

girdle

GURDL

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

girdled past tense, girdles plural, girdles singular

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She wore an old-fashioned _____ under her dress.

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