The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
beer belly \beer" bel`ly\ n.
a protruding potbelly caused by excessive drinking of beer.
Syn: beer gut.
[PJC]
In one of the less surprising revelations of the
year, researchers at the University of North
Carolina (UNC) and colleagues have confirmed that
excessive consumption of beer can lead to the
condition commonly known as beer belly. At the
same time, however, they discovered that, beyond
aesthetic concerns, the condition may point to
health hazards of a more serious nature. In a
comparison of beer drinkers and wine drinkers, the
scientists found that beer tends to build a
central paunch, or "potbelly", while wine drinkers
tend to have narrower waists, even when the same
amount of alcohol and calories is consumed by
both. --The
Scientist --
December 11,
1995.