Belt (clothing)

A belt is a flexible band or strap, typically made of leather, plastic, or heavy cloth, worn around the natural waist or near it (as far down as the hips). The ends of a belt are free, and a buckle is often used to form the belt into a loop by securing one end to another part of the belt, at or near the other end, though they may also be without a buckle and be simply tied using some form of knot. Often, the resulting loop is smaller than the hips. Belts come in many lengths because of the variety in waist sizes, and when they have a buckle, some belts can be adjusted at it to suit the wearer's waist. It can also be used as a weapon of discipline by parents and sometimes used as a symbol of child abuse in some cases.