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 ]

Belly

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 ]

Belly

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

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

Bellyache

n. Pain in the bowels; colic. [ 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 ]

Bellyband

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 ]

Bellybound

a. Costive; constipated. [ 1913 Webster ]

belly button

, 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 ]

Bellycheat

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

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