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girdle

GUR-duhl · noun

Proto-GermanicProto-West GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Origin

From Middle English girdel, gerdel, gurdel, from Old English gyrdel, from Proto-West Germanic *gurdil, from Proto-Germanic *gurdilaz, meaning 'girdle' or 'belt' — built from the root gird plus the suffix -le.

Journey

The word has stayed close to its roots throughout: from Old English gyrdel to Middle English girdel, it has always named a belt-like band worn around the body.

Related words

It's cognate with German Gürtel and Dutch gordel, both meaning 'belt,' as well as Swedish gördel and Icelandic gyrðill, all pointing back to the same Germanic idea of binding something round the waist.

More words

From Proto-West Germanic

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