[gir.dle] n [ME girdel, fr. OE gyrdel; akin to OHG gurtil girdle, OE gyrdan to gird] (bef. 12c) 1: something that encircles or confines: as a: an article of dress encircling the body usu. at the waist b: a woman's close-fitting undergarment often boned and usu. elasticized that extends from the waist to below the hips c (1): pectoral girdle (2): pelvic girdle
2: the edge of a brilliant that is grasped by the setting--see brilliant illustration
[2]girdle vt gir.dled ; gir.dling (1582) 1: to encircle with or as if with a girdle
2: to cut away the bark and cambium in a ring around (a plant) usu. to kill by interrupting the circulation of water and nutrients
3: to move around: circle "girdled the world"