Emily Dickinson Lexicon

BEL'LOWS, n. [sing. and plur. Sax. bilig or bylig, bellows; and bilig, bylg, a blown bladder, a bottle; Goth. balgs, bylg, bylga, a mail or budget; L. bulga; Ir. builg, bolg, a bellows; Ger. balg, a skin; blasebalg, a bellows, that is a blow-skin; D. blaasbalg; Sw. bläsbalg; Dan. blæsebelg. See Blaze. The word is properly in the singular number, Goth. balgs, but is used also in the plural. It seems to be the same word as the L. follis, and probably from shooting out, swelling, or driving. W. bal.]

An instrument, utensil, or machine for blowing fire, either in, private dwellings or in forges, furnaces and shops. It is so formed as by being dilated and contracted, to inhale air by a lateral orifice which is opened and closed with a valve, and to propel it through a tube upon the fire.