The word "waist" refers to the part of the human body located between the ribs and the hips. It is often considered the narrowest part of the torso and plays a crucial role in the body's structure and movement. The waist is also a common reference point for clothing sizes and styles, as it helps to determine how well a piece of clothing fits the body.
The term "waist" originates from the Old English word "waist" or "wæist," which is derived from the Proto-Germanic "*waistwō," meaning the part of the body where the flesh is narrow. It is related to similar words in other Germanic languages, such as Dutch "waste" and German "Wurst" (but note that the latter refers to sausage, indicating a semantic branch).