belly

Noun · Verb
Synonyms: abdomenventerstomachpaunchbelly out

WordNet 3.0

Noun (5)

  1. the region of the body of a vertebrate between the thorax and the pelvisSynonyms: abdomenventerstomach
  2. a protruding abdomenSynonyms: paunch
  3. a part that bulges deeply“the belly of a sail”
  4. the hollow inside of something“in the belly of the ship”
  5. the underpart of the body of certain vertebrates such as snakes or fish

Verb (1)

  1. swell out or bulge outSynonyms: belly out
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

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[aum]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]

Belly \Bel"ly\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bellied; p. pr. & vb. n. Bellying.] To cause to swell out; to fill. [R.] [1913 Webster]

Your breath of full consent bellied his sails. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Belly \Bel"ly\, v. i. To swell and become protuberant, like the belly; to bulge. [1913 Webster]

The bellying canvas strutted with the gale. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

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