Emily Dickinson Lexicon

BEL'LY, n. [Ir. bolg, the belly, a bag, pouch, budget, blister, bellows; W. boly, the belly, whence boliaw, to belly, to gorge; Arm. boelcu, bowels. The primary sense is swelled, or a swell.]

1. That part of the human body which extends from the breast to the thighs, containing the bowels. It is called also the abdomen or lower belly, to distinguish it from the head and breast, which are sometimes called bellies, from their cavity. – Quincy.
2. The part of a beast corresponding to the human belly.
3. The womb. – Jer. i. 5.
4. The receptacle of food; that which requires food in opposition to the back. Whose God is their belly. – Phil. iii.
5. The part of any thing which resembles the human belly in protuberance or cavity, as of a harp or a bottle.
6. Any hollow inclosed place; as, the belly of hell, in Jonah.
7. In Scripture, belly is used for the heart. Prov. xviii. 8. xx. 30. John vii. 38. Carnal lusts, sensual pleasures. Rom. xvi. 18. Phil. iii. 19. The whole man. Tit. i. 12. – Brown. Cruden.