— black-belt , adj.
/blak" belt'/ for 1, 2; /blak" belt", belt'/ for 3, 4
1. ( caps. ) a narrow belt of dark-colored, calcareous soils in central Alabama and Mississippi highly adapted to agriculture, esp. the growing of cotton.
2. the area of a city or region inhabited primarily by blacks.
3. Martial Arts.
a. a black cloth waistband conferred upon a participant in one of the martial arts, as judo or karate, to indicate a degree of expertise of the highest rank.
b. a person who has obtained such rank.
c. the rank itself. Cf. brown belt, white belt .
4. a person proficient in some particular skill or endeavor; expert.
[ 1865-70 ]