WAIST

waist. Waist, n. the smallest part of the body below the ribs, middle floor of a ship, middle deck

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Waist (?), n. [[OE. wast; originally, growth, akin to AS. weaxan to grow; cf. AS. wæstm growth. See Wax to grow.]] 1. 1. That part of the human body which is immediately below the ribs or thorax; the small part of the body between the thorax and hips. Chaucer.
I am in the waist two yards about. Shak. 2. 2. Hence, the middle part of other bodies; especially (Naut.), that part of a vessel's deck, bulwarks, etc., which is between the quarter-deck and the forecastle; the middle part of the ship.
3. 3. A garment, or part of a garment, which covers the body from the neck or shoulders to the waist line.
4. 4. A girdle or belt for the waist. Shak.
Waist anchor. See Sheet anchor, 1, in the Vocabulary.