| Belly | n.; pl. Bellies [ OE. bali, bely, AS. belg, bælg, bælig, bag, bellows, belly; akin to Icel. belgr bag, bellows, Sw. bälg, Dan. bælg, 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 ] ☞ 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 ]
|
| Bellyache | v. i. to complain, especially in a whining or grumbling manner; to gripe.
Syn. -- gripe, whine, complain, moan, snivel, grumble, squawk. [ PJC + WordNet 1.5 ] |
| bellyacher | n. a person who complains habitually, usually about everyday minor problems.
Syn. -- whiner, complainer, moaner, sniveler, crybaby, grumbler, squawker. [ WordNet 1.5 ] |
