1. [n]  a woman's close-fitting foundation garment
2. [n]  a band of material around the waist that strengthens a skirt or trousers
3. [n]  an encircling or ringlike structure
4. [v]  put a girdle on or around
5. [v]  cut a girdle around (a plant) so as to kill by interrupting the circulation of water and nutrients

1. \Gir"dle\, n.
   A griddle. [Scot. & Prov. Eng.]
   

2. \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.]
   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.
            Within the girdle of these walls.     --Shak.
            Their breasts girded with golden girdles. --Rev. xv.
                                                  6.
   2. The zodiac; also, the equator. [Poetic] --Bacon.
            From the world's girdle to the frozen pole.
                                                  --Cowper.
            That gems the starry girdle of the year. --Campbell.
   3. (Jewelry) The line ofgreatest circumference of a
      brilliant-cut diamond, at which it is grasped by the
      setting. See Illust. of {Brilliant}. --Knight.
   4. (Mining) A thin bed or stratum of stone. --Raymond.
   5. (Zo["o]l.) The clitellus of an earthworm.
   {Girdle bone} (Anat.), the sphenethmoid. See under
      {Sphenethmoid}.
   {Girdle wheel}, a spinning wheel.
   {Sea girdle} (Zo["o]l.), 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.
   

3. \Gir"dle\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Girdled}; p. pr. & vb. n.
   {Girdling}.]
   1. To bind with a belt or sash; to gird. --Shak.
   2. To inclose; to environ; to shut in.
            Those sleeping stones, That as a waist doth girdle
            you about.                            --Shak.
   3. To make a cut or gnaw a groove around (a tree, etc.)
      through the bark and alburnum, thus killing it. [U. S.]
   

(1.) Heb. hagor, a girdle of any kind worn by soldiers (1 Sam. 18:4; 2 Sam. 20:8; 1 Kings 2:5; 2 Kings 3:21) or women (Isa. 3:24).

(2.) Heb. 'ezor, something "bound," worn by prophets (2 Kings 1:8; Jer. 13:1), soldiers (Isa. 5:27; 2 Sam. 20:8; Ezek. 23:15), Kings (Job 12:18).

(3.) Heb. mezah, a "band," a girdle worn by men alone (Ps. 109:19; Isa. 22:21).

(4.) Heb. 'abnet, the girdle of sacerdotal and state officers (Ex. 28:4, 39, 40; 29:9; 39:29).

(5.) Heb. hesheb, the "curious girdle" (Ex. 28:8; R.V., "cunningly woven band") was attached to the ephod, and was made of the same material.

The common girdle was made of leather (2 Kings 1:8; Matt. 3:4); a finer sort of linen (Jer. 13:1; Ezek. 16:10; Dan. 10:5). Girdles of sackcloth were worn in token of sorrow (Isa. 3:24; 22:12). They were variously fastened to the wearer (Mark 1:6; Jer. 13:1; Ezek. 16:10).

The girdle was a symbol of strength and power (Job 12:18, 21; 30:11; Isa. 22:21; 45:5). "Righteousness and faithfulness" are the girdle of the Messiah (Isa. 11:5).

Girdles were used as purses or pockets (Matt. 10:9. A. V., "purses;" R.V., marg., "girdles." Also Mark 6:8).