Definition of "girdle"

Suppose within the girdle of these wallsAre now confin'd two mighty monarchies

1599, William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act I, prologue]

And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles

1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], Revelation 15:6

She therefore assumed the novice's garb, so universally worn by young Italians—a robe of black silk, only fastened round the waist by a girdle.

1834, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XIV, in Francesca Carrara. […], volume III, London: Richard Bentley, […], (successor to Henry Colburn), page 109

that gems the starry girdle of the year

1799, Thomas Campbell, Pleasures of Hope

from the world's girdle to the frozen pole

1782, William Cowper, Expostulation

under the girdle of the world

1631, Francis [Bacon], “IV. Century.”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], 3rd edition, London: […] William Rawley; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […]

The Equator, as everyone knows, is an imaginary line or circle girdling the Earth half-way between the North and South poles.

1920, Edward Carpenter, Pagan and Christian Creeds: Their Origin and Meaning, page 36

The ordinary large reddish "hen hawks," which circle high above meadows, are doing great good to the farmer by feeding upon the mice and other creatures which steal his grain and girdle his trees.

1911, Anna Botsford Comstock, Handbook of Nature Study, 24th edition, published 1939, page 108