In today’s edition of the Arizona Republic, AP writer Paisley Dodds reports that a London department store has started selling men’s girdles in hopes of cashing in on the metrosexual revolution.(If you’re unfamiliar with this revolution, it refers to the conscientious efforts of heterosexual men to take great pains with their appearances.)The garment has been dubbed a “mirdle.”A mirdle?That sounds strikingly similar to Myrtle, a female name popular in the early 1900’s when the girdle’s upper class cousin, the corset, was in vogue.It conjures up images of bouffanted aunts struggling to cram dimpled saddlebag thighs into garments resembling lacey, prim biker shorts.If the moniker “mirdle” is supposed to be a masculine-sounding contraction of men and girdle, it fails.Contrarily, this type of garment’s original name, girdle, connotes visions of masculinity in Biblical proportions.The apostle, Paul’s admonition to the Ephesians to “stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,” resonates as downright Gladiator-ish.I can imagine Russell Crowe in a girdle, but a mirdle? Men, especially, those determined to be the types who “call a spade a spade,” would be better off calling a girdle a girdle.
WomanNeverSleeps 
fabulous blog!I had a friend long ago when she was just beginning womanhood (if you get my drift) that referred to her monthly time as a visit from Aunt Myrtle. So there is something in a name….I think I’ll have to watch Gladiator again, soon!
We always called the “visiting lady” Millie, but I thought of the same thing when I was writing this!
We read in church on Sunday a part of Psalm 30: “You have turned my mourning into dancing; You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness; that my soul may sing praise to You, and not be silent.” Maybe those flabby men just need sackcloth!!! 🙂
“Amen” to that, Sister! Or maybe they need more gladness so they don’t feel like they need the mirdles in the first place…