belly
UK[ˈbɛli]US[ˈbɛli]
n
The front part of the human body below the chest, containing the stomach and bowels.
n
The rounded underside of something, such as an animal, a ship, or a musical instrument.
Etymology
The word 'belly' has a straightforward yet vivid history. It evolved from the Old English 'bælg', a term for a flexible container like a bag or a bellows. This concrete meaning was metaphorically extended to refer to the body's abdomen, conceptualized as a container for the guts. The semantic shift from an external sack to an internal body part is a common pattern, reflecting how physical objects provide models for understanding anatomy. Its Proto-Germanic root 'balgiz' connects it to other words for swelling or bag-like forms, such as 'bellows' and 'ball'.
Analysis
This word is a simplex form. It originates from the Old English 'bælg', 'belg' meaning "bag, pouch, pod, husk, bellows," which itself derives from the Proto-Germanic 'balgiz' meaning "bag".
Examples
The puppy had a full, round belly after its meal.
The ship's belly scraped against the sandbar.
He crawled on his belly through the tall grass.