The Collaborative International Dictionary
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.]
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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. -
The under part of the body of animals, corresponding to the human belly.
Underneath the belly of their steeds.
--Shak. -
The womb. [Obs.]
Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee.
--Jer. i. 5. -
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. -
(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.