- Belly
- Belly Bel"ly (b[e^]l"l[y^]), n.; pl. {Bellies} (-l[i^]z). [OE.
bali, bely, AS. belg, b[ae]lg, b[ae]lig, bag, bellows, belly;
akin to Icel. belgr bag, bellows, Sw. b["a]lg, Dan. b[ae]lg,
D. & G. balg, cf. W. bol the paunch or belly, dim. boly, Ir.
bolg. Cf. {Bellows}, {Follicle}, {Fool}, {Bilge}.]
1. That part of the human body which extends downward from
the breast to the thighs, and contains the bowels, or
intestines; the abdomen.
[1913 Webster]
Note: Formerly all the splanchnic or visceral cavities were called bellies; -- the lower belly being the abdomen; the middle belly, the thorax; and the upper belly, the head. --Dunglison. [1913 Webster]
2. The under part of the body of animals, corresponding to the human belly. [1913 Webster]
Underneath the belly of their steeds. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
3. The womb. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee. --Jer. i. 5. [1913 Webster]
4. The part of anything which resembles the human belly in protuberance or in cavity; the innermost part; as, the belly of a flask, muscle, sail, ship. [1913 Webster]
Out of the belly of hell cried I. --Jonah ii. 2. [1913 Webster]
5. (Arch.) The hollow part of a curved or bent timber, the convex part of which is the back. [1913 Webster]
{Belly doublet}, a doublet of the 16th century, hanging down so as to cover the belly. --Shak.
{Belly fretting}, the chafing of a horse's belly with a girth. --Johnson.
{Belly timber}, food. [Ludicrous] --Prior.
{Belly worm}, a worm that breeds or lives in the belly (stomach or intestines). --Johnson. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
