Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of 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. 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. 2. The under part of the body of animals, corresponding to the human belly. Underneath the belly of their steeds. --Shak. 3. The womb. [Obs.] Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee. --Jer. i. 5. 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. Out of the belly of hell cried I. --Jonah ii. 2. 5. (Arch.) The hollow part of a curved or bent timber, the convex part of which is the back. {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.
\Bel"ly\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Bellied}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Bellying}.] To cause to swell out; to fill. [R.] Your breath of full consent bellied his sails. --Shak.
\Bel"ly\, v. i. To swell and become protuberant, like the belly; to bulge. The bellying canvas strutted with the gale. --Dryden.