waist Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the narrowing of the body between the ribs and hips
    waistline.
  2. noun the narrow part of the shoe connecting the heel and the wide part of the sole
    shank.

WordNet

Waist noun
Etymology
OE. wast; originally, growth, akin to AS. weaxan to grow; cf. AS. wæstm growth. See Wax to grow.
Definitions
  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. 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. A garment, or part of a garment, which covers the body from the neck or shoulders to the waist line.
  4. A girdle or belt for the waist. Obs. Shak.

Webster 1913