n. & v.
--n.
1. a strip of leather or other material worn round the waist or across the chest, esp. to retain or support clothes or to carry weapons or as a safety-belt.
2 a belt worn as a sign of rank or achievement.
3 a a circular band of material used as a driving medium in machinery. b a conveyor belt. c a flexible strip carrying machine-gun cartridges.
4 a strip of colour or texture etc. differing from that on each side.
5 a distinct region or extent (cotton belt; commuter belt; a belt of rain).
6 sl. a heavy blow.
--v.
1. tr. put a belt round.
2 tr. (often foll. by on) fasten with a belt.
3 tr. a beat with a belt. b sl. hit hard.
4 intr. sl. rush, hurry (usu. with compl. : belted along; belted home).
Phrases and idioms:
below the belt unfair or unfairly; disregarding the rules. belt and braces (of a policy etc.) of twofold security. belt out sl. sing or utter loudly and forcibly. belt up Brit.
1. sl. be quiet.
2 colloq. put on a seat belt. tighten one's belt live more frugally.
under one's belt
1. (of food) eaten.
2 securely acquired (has a degree under her belt).
Derivatives:
belter n. (esp. in sense of belt out).
Etymology: OE f. Gmc f. L balteus