girdle

Definition

That which girds, encircles, or encloses; a circumference.

Etymology

From Middle English girdel, gerdel, gurdel, from Old English gyrdel, from Proto-West Germanic *gurdil, from Proto-Germanic *gurdilaz (“girdle, belt”), equivalent to gird + -le. Cognates Cognate with Saterland Frisian Gäddel (“belt”), West Frisian gurdle, gurle, gurl (“belt”), Dutch gordel (“belt”), German Gürtel (“belt”), Yiddish גאַרטל (gartl, “belt”) (whence gartel, a doublet of girdle), Swedish gördel (“girdle”), Icelandic gyrðill (“girdle”).

Example Sentences

• "the girdle of the world"
• "Suppose within the girdle of these walls Are now confin'd two mighty monarchies"
• "from the world's girdle to the frozen pole"