I. ˈbe-lē noun
( plural bellies )
Etymology: Middle English bely bellows, belly, from Old English belg bag, skin; akin to Old High German balg bag, skin, Old English blāwan to blow — more at blow
Date: before 12th century
1.
a. : abdomen 1 ; also : potbelly 1
b. : the stomach and its adjuncts
c. : the undersurface of an animal's body ; also : hide from this part
d. : womb , uterus
2. : an internal cavity : interior
3. : appetite for food
4. : a surface or object curved or rounded like a human belly
5.
a. : the enlarged fleshy body of a muscle
b. : the part of a sail that swells out when filled with wind
6. : gut 1a(2)
II. verb
( bel·lied ; bel·ly·ing )
Date: 1606
transitive verb
: to cause to swell or fill out
wind belly ing the sails
intransitive verb
1. : swell , fill
2.
a. : to slide or crawl on one's belly
b. : belly-land