gorbelly

English

Etymology

UK 16th century. Possibly gore +‎ belly or gormand +‎ belly. Compare Swedish går-bälg.

Noun

gorbelly (plural gorbellies)

1. (obsolete) A large, protruding belly.
2. (obsolete) A person with such a belly.
   • a. 1607, Thomas Tomkis, Lingua, or, The Combat of the Tongue and the Five Senses for Superiority, act 5, scene 5:

     The belching gorbelly hath well nigh killed me.

   • 1638, Francis Godwin, The Man in the Moone:

     To be briefe with him, he is a pestilence to pasties, which sweepeth many of them sheere away; a consumption to capons, chickins, and other poultry; a sepulchre to seafish and others in ponds, moates and rivers; a sharp sheepe-biter, and a marveilous mutton monger, a gorbelly glutton.

   • 1898, Walter Raymond, Two Men O' Mendip:

     "You girt vlat-vooted, gorbelly, stunpole, Zolomon Moggridge," he yelled, louder and louder with each word, "you've a-squot I so vlat as a dough-fig."

Synonyms

• (large belly): see Thesaurus:paunch
• (person with large belly): see Thesaurus:fat person

Derived terms

• gorbellied