belt definition

To encircle with, or as with, a belt; to encompass; to surround. "A coarse black robe belted round the waist." (C. Reade) "They belt him round with hearts undaunted." (Wordsworth)

2. To shear, as the buttocks and tails of sheep.

Origin: Belted; Belting.

1. That which engirdles a person or thing; a band or girdle; as, a lady's belt; a sword belt. "The shining belt with gold inlaid." (Dryden)

2. That which restrains or confines as a girdle. "He cannot buckle his distempered cause Within the belt of rule." (Shak)

3. Anything that resembles a belt, or that encircles or crosses like a belt; a strip or stripe; as, a belt of trees; a belt of sand.

4. Same as Band. A very broad band is more properly termed a belt.

5. <astronomy> One of certain girdles or zones on the surface of the planets Jupiter and Saturn, supposed to be of the nature of clouds.

6. <geography> A narrow passage or strait; as, the Great Belt and the Lesser Belt, leading to the Baltic Sea.

7. A token or badge of knightly rank.

8. <mechanics> A band of leather, or other flexible substance, passing around two wheels, and communicating motion from one to the other.

9. A band or stripe, as of colour, round any organ; or any circular ridge or series of ridges. Belt lacing, thongs used for lacing together the ends of machine belting.

See: Illust. Of Pulley.