Cinct

Part of speech: noun, verb

Definitions

1. A binding or ornamental strip worn around the waist serves both decorative and supportive functions while also indicating the act of encircling or securing an object
2. A strip of material worn around the waist for decoration or support ; to wrap or fasten something tightly with a band
3. A belt-like band used to secure clothing or for ornamental purposes ; to encircle something tightly by binding it with a strip

Etymology: Latin "cingere" meant "to gird," and its past participle "cinctus" described something girded or encircled by a band. English adopted this as "cinct," used as both noun and verb, but it stayed rare. Its more familiar relative is "cincture," from the Latin noun "cinctura," meaning a girdle or belt. The surprise lies in "succinct." It combines "sub-," here meaning "up" or "from below," with "cinctus," so its literal sense was of a garment tucked up and belted, out of the way and ready for movement. English later applied the word to speech and writing, meaning brief and to the point, as if the thought had been trimmed and cinched tight.

Synonyms: girdle, belt