n. a protruding potbelly caused by excessive drinking of beer.
Syn. -- beer gut. [ PJC ]

In one of the less surprising revelations of the year, researchers at the University of North Carolina (UNC) and colleagues have confirmed that excessive consumption of beer can lead to the condition commonly known as beer belly. At the same time, however, they discovered that, beyond aesthetic concerns, the condition may point to health hazards of a more serious nature. In a comparison of beer drinkers and wine drinkers, the scientists found that beer tends to build a central paunch, or “potbelly”, while wine drinkers tend to have narrower waists, even when the same amount of alcohol and calories is consumed by both. The Scientist -- December 11, 1995.

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 ]

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 ]

v. i. To swell and become protuberant, like the belly; to bulge. [ 1913 Webster ]

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

n. Pain in the bowels; colic. [ 1913 Webster ]

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 ]

n. a person who complains habitually, usually about everyday minor problems.
Syn. -- whiner, complainer, moaner, sniveler, crybaby, grumbler, squawker. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. A band that passes under the belly of a horse and holds the saddle or harness in place; a girth. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A band of flannel or other cloth about the belly. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Naut.) A band of canvas, to strengthen a sail. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Costive; constipated. [ 1913 Webster ]

, n. The depression in the middle of the abdomen in humans left as a residue of the umbilical cord; the umbilicus; the navel{ 1 }. [ PJC ]

n. An apron or covering for the front of the person. [ Obs. ] Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Perh. from F. belle chère. ] Good cheer; viands. [ Obs. ] “Bellycheer and banquets.” Rowlands. “Loaves and bellycheer.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To revel; to feast. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

A pack of clergymen [ assembled ] by themselves to bellycheer in their presumptuous Sion. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. As much as satisfies the appetite. Hence: A great abundance; more than enough. Lloyd. [ 1913 Webster ]

King James told his son that he would have his bellyful of parliamentary impeachments. Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One whose great pleasure it is to gratify his appetite; a glutton; an epicure. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. to land on the underside without the landing gear; -- of airplanes. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. a vigorous, loud laugh, expressing a strong amusement. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. to laugh a deep, hearty laugh. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. Pinched with hunger; starved. “The belly-pinched wolf.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. to approach (a counter) and stand in front of it; -- used mostly in the phrase
belly up to the bar (i.e. to a counter in a saloon). [ PJC ]

, a. [ from analogy to the position of a floating dead fish. ] defunct; bankrupt; -- used mostly of commercial organizations; often used in the phrase
go belly-up, i. e. to go bankrupt. [ PJC ]

n. [ Gore filth, dirt + belly. ] A prominent belly; a big-bellied person. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A protuberant belly. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The char. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The alewife. [ Local, U.S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) The gadwall. [ Local, U.S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. A prominent, overhanging belly. Smollett. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Med.) Any large tumor developed in the abdomen, and neither fluctuating nor sonorous. Dunglison. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The lower ventral part of the abdomen of an animal, especially one that walks on four feet. [ PJC ]

2. The surface of an object closest to the ground, especially of an extended object such as an airplane. [ PJC ]

3. The weak point of an object vulnerable to attack; used especially in the phrase “the soft underbelly”. [ PJC ]

n. (Zool.) (a) The American widgeon, or baldpate. (b) The prairie chicken. [ 1913 Webster ]