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more about bellies
bellies |
1 definition found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: 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.
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