belly
UK: ˈbeli | US: ˈbeli
n. the front part of the human body below the chest, containing the stomach and intestines
n. the rounded or swollen part of an object (e.g., the belly of a ship)
v. (archaic) to swell or bulge outward
The word "belly" traces back to Old English belg ("bag, pouch"), derived from Proto-Germanic balgiz ("skin, hide, bag"). The original sense referred to a flexible container (like a wineskin), which evolved metaphorically to describe the human abdomen due to its rounded, pouch-like shape. The suffix -y (common in Old English nouns) solidified its nominal form. Over time, "belly" generalized to describe any bulging part of an object (e.g., a ship's belly). The verb form, now rare, reflects the action of swelling like a filled bag.
She laughed until her belly ached.
The whale's belly was full of krill.
The sail billowed in the wind, forming a rounded belly.
(Archaic) The sails bellied out as the storm approached.
He patted his belly after the large meal.