Chastity Girdle
Preserved but no longer current.
A padded, metal appliance in the shape of a belt that a man could fasten around his wife in such a way as to preclude possibility of unfaithfulness during his pro- longed absence. It is said to have come into vogue in the times of the Crusades when men set forth on protracted journeys and cam- paigns. One or two examples only are to be found in museums.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Chastity Girdle” mean?
A padded, metal appliance in the shape of a belt that a man could fasten around his wife in such a way as to preclude possibility of unfaithfulness during his pro- longed absence. It is said to have come into vogue in the times of the Crusades when men set forth on protracted journeys and cam- paigns. One or two examples only are to be found in museums.
Is “Chastity Girdle” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.