- belly
- belly [bel′ē]n.pl. bellies [ME beli < OE belg, leather bag, purse, bellows < IE base * bhelĝh-, to swell, bag (< * bhel-, to inflate) > Ir bolg, sack, belly, ON bylgja, billow, Goth balgs, leather bottle]1. the lower front part of the human body between the chest and thighs; abdomen2. the underside of an animal's body3. the abdominal cavity4. the stomach5. an appetite for food6. the deep interior [the belly of a ship]7. any part, surface, or section that curves outward or bulges, as the swelling part of a sail in the wind, the fleshy middle part of a muscle, or the upper surface of a violin8. the front part or underside of anything9. Archaic the wombvt., vi.bellied, bellyingto swell out; curve out; bulge——————☆ belly upSlang to stand or step close as to a counter or railing——————go belly up Slang1. to die: said as of a fish2. to fail; often, specif., to become bankrupt
English World dictionary. V. Neufeldt. 2014.