A girdle is similar to an old fashioned corset, at least in the US.

I agree with Don. In British English also, nowadays "girdle" as an item of clothing refers to an elasticated corset. I don't know anyone who wears one, but presumably you can still buy them.
Other than that, you'll only find "girdle" used metaphorically as in "a girdle of mountains", in medical terminology, e.g. the pelvic girdle, and in literature referring to clothing in the Middle Ages when "girdle" still meant "belt".

Thank you both!
That really helps a lot, but I still wonder why Penguin 2004 defines "girdle" as "something that encircles or confines something, eg. a belt"...

The example I had in mind dates to the early Middle Ages. Would it be completely wrong to use the old-fashioned term "girdle" for such an "old-fashioned" item?

@tee

I think modern day English speakers would misunderstand, if you used the word girdle.

ok, I'm convinced!
Thanks again,

Here I disagree with Don. In your particular context, it would not be wrong to call it a girdle. It would be understood in the context. And I wouldn't mind betting that "girdle" would also be used by such authors as Tolkien in Lord of the Rings. I don't know what you call that genre - historical fantasy(?) - but a man or woman could wear a "girdle" of coins without readers interpreting it as some kind of corset.

I think that Anne has a good point, but perhaps the argument really hinges upon whom you assume your readership to be. If you assume that they speak German or are conversant with the atire of the Middle Ages, then Anne is right. If you assume that they are just a casual reader, then I would argue that I am. In any event, "belt" would not be misunderstood, whereas "girdle" might be. It depends how authentic you want this piece to feel.

Anyway, goodnight to both of you.
Don

(see image and description)
http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/byza/hod_17....

*In a medieval context* I not only agree with Anne that girdle would probably be entirely correct, I would even wonder whether belt might very likely be wrong, depending on the piece's function. Is the picture at the link above perchance similar to the kind of object you're describing? If so, the Metropolitan Museum certainly ought to know what it's called.

I'm no expert, so I will gladly defer to any that may later show up. But just off the top of my head, I would say that a girdle was normally a narrower, lighter, cord-like item, often of metal, worn over a woman's gown or a man's tunic, primarily for decoration, partly as a piece of jewelry, often with one or both ends dangling, and partly to give shape (i.e. a waistline, often dropped) to a otherwise loose garment.

In contrast, a belt tended to be wider, heavier, and more functional, often of leather, worn primarily by men, and serving to hold up trousers and/or to hold a sword, purse, etc.

A web search for images of both, plus the word 'medi(a)eval' (or Byzantine or Greek or Roman or whatever), might be helpful.

In any case, surely it's safe to say that if you're already talking about medieval (or earlier) clothing and jewelry, no one is going to picture a 1950s-era elastic undergarment. However, if it would make you feel better, you could always try working in both words, e.g., 'a cotton tunic belted with a girdle made of coins.' (-:

That is exactly the type of "girdle" I was worried about. Good to see that the Metmuseum uses the term, too.

And thanks for all the details (especially the nice phrase "belted with a girdle" - I think that makes *everyone* happy)