Synonyms for belly

Grammar : Noun

Spell : bel-ee

Phonetic Transcription : ˈbɛl i

Top 10 synonyms for belly

Other synonyms for the word belly

Définition of belly

Origin : Old English belg, bylg (West Saxon), bælg (Anglian) "leather bag, purse, bellows," from Proto-Germanic *balgiz "bag" (cf. Old Norse belgr "bag, bellows," bylgja "billow," Gothic balgs "wineskin"), from PIE *bholgh-, from root *bhelgh- "to swell," an extension of *bhel- (2) "to blow, swell" (see bole). Meaning shifted to "body" (late 13c.), then focused to "abdomen" (mid-14c.). Meaning "bulging part or concave surface of anything" is 1590s. The West Germanic root had a figurative or extended sense of "anger, arrogance" (cf. Old English bolgenmod "enraged;" belgan (v.) "to become angry").
Indo-European languages commonly use the same word for both the external belly and the internal (stomach, womb, etc.), but the distinction of external and internal is somewhat present in English belly/stomach; Greek gastr- (see gastric) in classical language denoted the paunch or belly, while modern science uses it only in reference to the stomach as an organ. Fastidious avoidance of belly in speech and writing (compensated for by stretching the senses of imported stomach and abdomen, baby-talk tummy and misappropriated midriff) began late 18c. and the word was banished from Bibles in many early 19c. editions. Belly punch (n.) is attested from 1811.

noun stomach

Example sentences :

Your chattel is for growing corn, not for corn in a hog's belly.
Extract from : « Dust » by Mr. and Mrs. Haldeman-Julius

But a ridiculous and childish fable of the belly and the rest of the members.
Extract from : « The Praise of Folly » by Desiderius Erasmus

Another spends all he can rap and run on his belly, to be the more hungry after it.
Extract from : « The Praise of Folly » by Desiderius Erasmus

The Vaisyas, who constitute the third caste, issued from Brahma's belly.
Extract from : « The Unknown Life of Jesus Christ » by Nicolas Notovitch

They called down to Madame Gaudron to ask her if she could squeeze her belly through.
Extract from : « L'Assommoir » by Emile Zola

They laughed so at the jokes about her belly that the column itself vibrated.
Extract from : « L'Assommoir » by Emile Zola

And to think that Gervaise used to fill her belly with fat goose!
Extract from : « L'Assommoir » by Emile Zola

With his face fat and rosy, his belly full, his brain empty, he felt happy.
Extract from : « Therese Raquin » by Emile Zola

In carving a pike, if the back and belly be slit up, and each slice drawn gently downwards, fewer bones will be given at table.
Extract from : « The Cook and Housekeeper's Complete and Universal Dictionary; Including a System of Modern Cookery, in all Its Various Branches, » by Mary Eaton

Scale and draw out the entrails of the fish without opening the belly, give them a wash, and let them drain from the water.
Extract from : « The Cook and Housekeeper's Complete and Universal Dictionary; Including a System of Modern Cookery, in all Its Various Branches, » by Mary Eaton

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019