From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
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[aum]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.
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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.
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2. The under part of the body of animals, corresponding to
the human belly.
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Underneath the belly of their steeds. --Shak.
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3. The womb. [Obs.]
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Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee.
--Jer. i. 5.
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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.
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Out of the belly of hell cried I. --Jonah ii. 2.
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5. (Arch.) The hollow part of a curved or bent timber, the
convex part of which is the back.
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{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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