Girdle
The term girdle, meaning “belt”, commonly refers to the liturgical attire that normally closes a cassock in many Christian denominations, including the Anglican Communion, Methodist Church and Lutheran Church. The girdle, in the 8th or 9th century, was said to resemble an ancient Levitical Jewish vestment, and in that era, was not visible. In 800 AD, the girdle began to be worn by Christian deacons in the Eastern Church.The girdle, for men, symbolizes preparation and readiness to serve, and for women, represents chastity and protection; it was also worn by laypersons in the Middle Ages, as attested in literature. For example, the hagiographical account of Saint George and the Dragon mentions the evildoer being tamed with the sign of the cross and a girdle handed to Saint George by a virgin.Since the 20th century, the word “girdle” also has been used to define an undergarment made of elasticized fabric that was worn by women. It is a form-fitting foundation garment that encircles the lower torso, perhaps extending below the hips, and worn often to shape or for support. It may be worn for aesthetic or medical reasons. In sports or medical treatment, a girdle may be worn as a compression garment. This form of women’s foundation wear replaced the corset in popularity, and was in turn to a large extent surpassed by the pantyhose in the 1960s.
Belt (noun)
A band worn around the waist to hold clothing to one’s body (usually pants), hold weapons (such as a gun or sword), or serve as a decorative piece of clothing.
“As part of the act, the fat clown’s belt broke, causing his pants to fall down.”
Belt (noun)
A band used as a restraint for safety purposes, such as a seat belt.
“Keep your belt fastened; this is going to be quite a bumpy ride.”
Belt (noun)
A band that is used in a machine to help transfer motion or power.
“The motor had a single belt that snaked its way back and forth around a variety of wheels.”
Belt (noun)
Anything that resembles a belt, or that encircles or crosses like a belt; a strip or stripe.
“a belt of trees; a belt of sand”
Belt (noun)
A trophy in the shape of a belt, generally awarded for martial arts.
“the heavyweight belt”
Belt (noun)
A collection of rocky-constituted bodies (such as asteroids) which orbit a star.
Belt (noun)
One of certain girdles or zones on the surface of the planets Jupiter and Saturn, supposed to be of the nature of clouds.
Belt (noun)
A powerful blow, often made with a fist or heavy object.
“After the bouncer gave him a solid belt to the gut, Simon had suddenly had enough of barfighting.”
Belt (noun)
A quick drink of liquor.
“Care to join me in a belt of scotch?”
Belt (noun)
A geographical region known for a particular product, feature or demographic (Corn Belt, Bible Belt, Black Belt, Green Belt).
Belt (noun)
The part of the strike zone at the height of the batter’s waist.
“That umpire called that pitch a strike at the belt.”
Belt (noun)
device that holds and feeds cartridges into a belt-fed weapon
Belt (verb)
To encircle.
“The small town was belted by cornfields in all directions.”
Belt (verb)
To fasten a belt on.
“Edgar belted himself in and turned the car’s ignition.”
“The rotund man had difficulty belting his pants, and generally wore suspenders to avoid the issue.”
Belt (verb)
To invest (a person) with a belt as part of a formal ceremony such as knighthood.
Belt (verb)
To hit with a belt.
“The child was misbehaving so he was belted as punishment.”
Belt (verb)
To scream or sing in a loud manner.
“He belted out the national anthem.”
Belt (verb)
To drink quickly, often in gulps.
“He belted down a shot of whisky.”
Belt (verb)
To hit someone or something.
“The angry player belted the official across the face, and as a result was ejected from the game.”
Belt (verb)
To hit a pitched ball a long distance, usually for a home run.
“He belted that pitch over the grandstand.”
Belt (verb)
To move very fast
“He was really belting along.”
Girdle (noun)
That which girds, encircles, or encloses; a circumference
Girdle (noun)
A belt or elasticated corset; especially, a belt, sash, or article of dress encircling the body usually at the waist, often used to support stockings or hosiery.
Girdle (noun)
The zodiac; also, the equator.
Girdle (noun)
The line of greatest brilliant-cut diamond, at which it is grasped by the setting.
Girdle (noun)
A thin bed or stratum of stone.
Girdle (noun)
The clitellum of an earthworm.
Girdle (verb)
To gird, encircle, or constrain by such means.
Girdle (verb)
To kill or stunt a tree by removing or inverting a ring of bark.
Girdle (noun)
a belt or cord worn round the waist
“her waist was defined by a gold chain girdle”
Girdle (noun)
a thing that encircles something like a girdle
“a communications girdle around the world”
Girdle (noun)
either of two sets of bones encircling the body, to which the limbs are attached.
Girdle (noun)
a woman’s elasticated corset extending from waist to thigh
“she wears corsets and girdles, tight and uncomfortable”
Girdle (noun)
the part of a cut gem dividing the crown from the base and embraced by the setting.
Girdle (noun)
a ring made around a tree by removing bark.
Girdle (noun)
a heavy, flat iron plate that is heated and used for cooking food; a griddle.
Girdle (verb)
encircle (the body) with a girdle
“the Friar loosened the rope that girdled his waist”
Girdle (verb)
surround; encircle
“the chain of volcanoes which girdles the Pacific”
Girdle (verb)
cut through the bark all the way round (a tree or branch), typically in order to kill it or to kill a branch to make the tree more fruitful
“sometimes the trees were completely girdled and died”
Girdle Illustrations
