Dictionary: BEL – BELLH

• BEL
adj. c1314 obs. – fair, fine, beautiful
 
• BELA AND BORIS
n. 1996 US sl. – in hold ’em poker: the two of clubs and the two of spades
 
• BELABOROUS
adj. 1860 nonce word – given to thrashing
 
• BELABOUR
vb. 1604 obs. – to labour at, to work at; to exert one’s strength or ability upon
 
• BEL-ACCOIL;  BEL-ACCOYLE
n. c1400 obs. – kindly greeting, welcome
 
• BELACE
vb. 1. 1648 obs. – to streak, to stripe
vb. 2. 1736 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – to beat with stripes; to chastise with a strap
 
• BELACK
vb. a1555 obs. – to depreciate, to find fault with
 
• BE LAD AND LASS
vb. 1834 Sc. – to be lovers
 
• BELAG
vb. a1300 obs. – ? to clog with wet mud  
 
• BELAGGED
adj. 1. 1795 Eng. dial. – left behind, outstripped in walking
adj. 2. 1795 Eng. dial. – tired out
adj. 3. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – weighted with mud, muddied
 
• BE LAID ON THE BEAM-ENDS
vb. 1773 – to be quite laid aside, utterly at a loss, hard up
 
• BE LAID UP IN JOB’S DOCK
vb. L18 sl. – to be treated in hospital for a venereal disease
 
• BELAM;  BELAMB
vb. 1595 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – to thrash, to beat
 
• BEL-AMI • BELAMIE • BELAMY • BELLAMY
n. c1225 – fair friend; a good or intimate friend; esp. used as a form of address → obs.
 
► BELAMOUR n. 1. a loved one of either sex; a lady love; a sweetheart; a mistress → 1590 obs.
n. 2. a flower, but what kind is unknown → 1595 obs.
n. 3. love; a glance or look of love → 1610 obs.
 
• BELAMP
vb. a1000 obs. – to happen, to occur, to befall
  
• BELANGINGS
n. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – relatives, family connections
 
• BELANTERED
adj. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – behind time, belated
 
• BELAP
vb. c1200 obs. – to lap about, to clasp, to enfold, to envelop; to environ, to surround
 
• BELAPPED 
adj. c1175 obs. – surrounded
 
• BE LAPPED IN ONE’S MOTHER’S SMOCK
vb. 1690 obs. – to be born to fortune
 
• BELASIAN
n. 2003 US sl. – a drunk, Belligerent Asian
 
• BELAST
adj. 1441 obs. – burdened, charged, bound
 
• BELATE
vb. 1642 – to make late, to detain beyond the usual time, to delay; to hinder
 
• BELATED
adj. 1899 Amer. dial. arch. – hindered, behind the time
 
• BELAUDER 
n. 1884 – one who loads with praise
 
• BE LAUGHING
vb. World War I Brit. colloq. – to be comfortable, safe, fortunate; hence, to be winning
 
• BE LAUGHING ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK
vb. c1965 – to have been very successful financially, esp. in a coup, and in the face of long odds or disapproval
 
• BELAVE
vb. a1300 obs. – to wash all over
 
• BELAY
vb. 1. a1000 obs. – to lay a thing about with other object, i.e. by putting them about or around it; to surround, to environ, to enclose with
vb. 2. c1320 obs. – to beset with armed men; to besiege, to beleaguer
vb. 3. 1470-85 obs. – to waylay, to lie in wait for, to ambush
vb. 4. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – to fall upon with blows, to lame
vb. 5. Bk1911 Sc. – to overcome
vb. 6. 1931 Amer. dial. – to stop, to wait; to cancel, to disregard
 
• BELAYER 
n. 1927 – in mountaineering and rock climbing: a person who controls the rope used in a belay, safeguarding a partner who is using it to climb
 
• BELAYING
n. 1677 obs. – a lying in wait
 
• BELBEVAR
vb. Bk1911 Sc. – to puzzle; to perplex; to be unable to decide
 
• BELCH
n. 1. 1706 sl. – malt liquors, beer, porter; all sorts of beer
n. 2. 1767 Sc. – a stout or fat person
n. 3. 1822 Sc. – a brat of a child
n. 4. 1825 Sc. – a very lusty, robust person
n. 5. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – worthless or obscene conversation
n. 6. Bk1911 Sc. – a very fat animal
n. 7. Bk1914 criminals’ sl. – a protest; a complaint
n. 8. 1920 criminals’ sl. – a prison informant
n. 9. 1935 US sl. – a drunken vagrant
vb. 1. 1558 – to vomit
vb. 2. 1668 obs. – to eject, to throw out
vb. 3. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – to drink copiously
vb. 4. 1901 US sl. – to act as a police informer
 
• BELCHER
n. 1. Bk1891 – a hard beer drinker; specifically, one drinking to such excess that he vomits
n. 2. 1903 US criminals’ sl. – a prison informer; a stool pigeon; a telltale  
n. 3. 1914 UK sl. – one who talks nonsense
n. 4. 1920 criminals’ sl – a prostitute who insists on justifying her occupation to customers who are more interested in other things
n. 5. 1931 US sl. – a complainant or faultfinder
n. 6. 1934 criminals’ sl. – a loud and talkative person
n. 7. World War II Amer. sl. – an informer; a telltale
n. 8. 1950 US sl. – the mouth
 
• BELCH-GUTS 
n. Bk1891 sl. – a sot, a drunkard
 
• BELCHILD
n. 19C obs. – a grandchild
 
• BELCHING
adj. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – bragging, boasting, like an empty windbag
 
• BELDAM;  BELDAME
n. 1. c1440 obs. – a father or mother’s mother; a grandmother
n. 2. 1580 – an aged woman, a matron of advanced years
n. 3. a1586 – a loathsome old woman; a hag; a witch; a furious raging woman, a virago
n. 4. a1586 – a decrepit or ugly old woman
n. 5. 1679 obs. – a great-grandmother, or still remote ancestress
 
• BELDER
n. 1836 Eng. dial. – a loud noise
vb. 1. 1809 Eng. dial. – of persons, esp. children: to cry noisily, to roar; to shout
vb. 2. 1855 Eng. dial. – of cattle: to bellow
 
• BELDERER
n. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – a roarer
 
• BELDERING
adj. 1889 Eng. dial. – roaring, noisy
n. 1841 Ireland & Eng. dial. – a resounding cry; the bellowing of a bull
 
• BELDER-KITE 
n. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – a person who has eaten or drunk too much
 
• BELDERMENT
n. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – a loud continuous crying or shouting
 
• BELE
n. Bk1898 Eng. dial. obs. – bad conduct
 
• BELEAD
vb. 1. a1000 obs. – to lead away; to lead astray
vb. 2. c1275 obs. – to conduct, to lead, to use
 
• BELEAVE
vb. 1. a1000 obs. – to remain over, to survive, to be left in existence
vb. 2. c1175 obs. – to let or cause to remain behind; to go away without taking with one, to abandon
vb. 3. c1175 obs. – to remain for the time being in a place; to stay, to abide, to continue, to dwell with a person
vb. 4. c1205 obs. – to allow to remain over; to leave out of count or process; to pass over, to let go, to omit
vb. 5. c1205 obs. – to go away from a person or place; to depart from, to forsake, to quit, to abandon
vb. 6. a1225 obs. – to let go from one’s hold
 
• BELEAVING
n. 1. c1330 obs. – remaining, tarrying, abiding, abode  
n. 2. 1340 obs. – remaining steadfast; endurance, perseverance
 
• BELEEMY!
int. 1815 Eng. dial. – believe me!
 
• BELEFT
adj. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – believed
 
• BE LEFT
vb. c1895 colloq. – to fail; to be outdistances metaphorically; to be placed in a difficult situation
 
• BE LEFT CARRYING THE CAN
vb. M20 colloq. – to be made the scapegoat, to be burdened with (usually unwanted) responsibility, or both
 
• BE LEFT IN THE BASKET
vb. 1847 – to remain unchosen, or to the last, like the worst apples, etc.
 
• BE LEFT IN THE LAPS
vb. 1598 obs. – to be left in difficulties, ‘in the lurch’
 
• BELEMME!
int. 1815 Eng. dial. – believe me!
 
• BELEPER
vb. c1623 obs. – to afflict with leprosy
 
• BEL-ESPRIT
n. 1. 1638 – a clever genius; a brilliant wit
n. 2. 1860 – wit, wittiness
 
• BELETTE
n. 1522 obs. – a jewel, an ornament
 
• BELETTER
vb. 1. 1655 obs. – to serve with letters, to write to
vb. 2. 1883 – to decorate with letters, as Ph.D., etc., appended to one’s name
 
• BELEWE
vb. c1000 obs. – to betray
 
• BELFA;  BELLFA 
n. c1699 UK sl. – a prostitute
 
• BELFATHER
n. c1440 obs. – a grandfather
 
• BELFERT 
n. 1912 Sc. – someone over the usual size
 
• BELFRY
n. 1911 sl. – the head
 
• BELFUFF
n. 1932 Sc. – a fictitious place, remote and unspecified
 
• BELGARD
n. 1590 obs. – a kind or loving look
 
• BELGE
n. 1. 1591 – a native or inhabitant of the Low Countries, esp. a native or inhabitant of Belgium
n. 2. 1825 Sc. – a short, fat person; also, a term of disrespect  
vb. 1825 Eng. dial. – to cry aloud, to bellow
 
• BELGEEK 
n. 1925 US military sl. – a Belgian
 
• BELGIAN 
n. 1865 – a native of modern Belgium
 
• BELGIAN LACE
n. 2002 UK sl. – a pattern of white foam from the frothing head of beer that remains in an empty glass
 
• BELGIC 
n. 1870 rare – a native or inhabitant of the modern state of Belgium
 
• BELGIES
n. 1602 obs. – Low Germans
 
• BELGIQUE 
n. 1925 US military sl. – a Belgian
 
• BELGRANDFATHER
n. 19C – a great-great-grandfather
 
• BELGY 
n. 1841 colloq., often depreciative – a person from Belgium
 
• BELHACK
n. 1903 Amer. dial. – Hell
 
• BELIAL
n. 1. c1225 – the spirit of evil personified; the devil
n. 2. Bk1895 – a wicked and unprincipled person
 
• BELIALIST 
n. 1617 – a specialist of Belial, or the Devil
 
• BELIE
adv. Bk1911 Sc. – speedily; soon
vb. 1. a1000 obs. – to deceive by lying
vb. 2. a1000 obs. – to lie around, to encompass
vb. 3. a1000 obs. – to lie with an army around, to beleaguer
vb. 4. c1200 obs. – to lie near; to pertain or belong to
vb. 5. a1225 – to tell lies about; esp. to calumniate by false statements
vb. 6. c1325 obs. – to lie with carnally
vb. 7. 1577 obs. – to give the lie to; to call false, to contradict as a lie or a liar; to reject as false, to deny the truth of
vb. 8. a1700 obs. rare – to assume falsely the character of; to counterfeit
 
• BELIED
adj. 1610 – calumniated, falsified, proved false
 
• BELIEFFUL
adj. c1175 arch. – full of faith, believing
 
• BELIEFFULNESS
n. 1548 arch. – the quality of being full of belief or faith
 
• BELIER 
n. 1. 1547 – one who gives a false representation or account; a slanderer or libeller
n. 2. 1588 – a denier
 
• BELIEVER 
n. 1. 1925 US sl. – a gullible person who will believe whatever they are told
n. 2. 1971 US sl. – in trucking: a driver follows all laws and company rules
n. 3. 1991 US Vietnam war usage – a dead enemy soldier
 
• BELIEVE THE MOON IS MADE OF CHEESE
vb. 18C colloq. – to believe firmly something astounding, impossible, or absurd; hence, to be a fool
 
• BELIGHT
vb. c1200 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – to light up, to illuminate
 
• BELIKE
adj. 1550 obs.  exc. Sc. – like, likely to do something, probable  
adv. a1533 – likely, in all likelihood, probably, maybe; not unlikely, perhaps, possibly
n. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – a person who is the object of affection or liking
vb. 1. a1250 obs. – to make like, to simulate
vb. 2. 1481 obs. – to be like, to resemble
vb. 3. 1557 obs. – to like, to be pleased with
vb. 4. 1764 obs. – to be pleasing to, to please
 
• BE LIKE A COW’S TAIL
vb. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – to be late
 
• BE LIKE A COW’S TAIL, ALWAYS BEHIND
vb. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – to be late
 
• BE LIKE A DOG WITH A BONE 
vb. 1887 – to be tenacious, persistent, or obstinate; to be unwilling to yield, relent, or let go; to be unable to set aside a preoccupation or obsession
 
• BE LIKE A DONKEY’S TAIL
vb. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – to be late
 
• BE LIKE A DONKEY’S TAIL, ALWAYS BEHIND
vb. Bk1942 Amer. sl. – to be late
 
• BELIKED
adj. 1889 Amer. dial. – loved, beloved, liked
 
• BE LIKE DAD
vb. 1996 UK sl. – to keep quiet; to say nothing
 
• BELIKELY
adv. a1552 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – likely, in all likelihood, probably; not unlikely, perhaps, possibly
 
• BELIKES
adv. 1790 Sc. & Eng. dial. – perhaps, probably, maybe; surely
 
• BELIM
vb. c1205 obs. – to cut off a limb or the limbs; to dismember, to mutilate; to disfigure
 
• BELIMP
vb. 1. c888 obs. – to pertain, to belong to, to befit
vb. 2. a1000 obs. – to happen, to occur, to befall
 
• BELINDA CARLISLES
n. 2003 UK rhyming sl. for ‘piles’ – haemorrhoids
 
• BELIRT
vb. c950 obs. exc. Sc. – to deceive, to beguile, to cheat, to befool; to jilt
 
• BELITTER
vb. 1. c1325 obs. rare – to bring forth a litter, to have young  
vb. 2. 1660 obs. – to strew with litter (for the floor, as straw)
vb. 3. 1678 – to bestrew with rubbish or things in disorder
 
• BELIVE
adj. a1400 obs. – eager; glad
adv. 1. c1200 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – speedily, hastily, quickly, eagerly
adv. 2. c1220 obs. – at once, immediately, directly
adv. 3. 1616 obs. exc. Sc. – soon, by-and-by
adv. 4. 1775 Eng. dial. – in the evening
vb. c1000 obs. – to remain
 
• BELIVELY
adv. c1400 obs. rare – quickly, at once
 
• BELIZAN 
n. 1964 rare – a native or inhabitant of Belize
 
• BELIZEAN 
n. 1868 – a native or inhabitant of Belize on the Caribbean coast of Central America, since 1981 and independent Commonwealth state and formerly a British Crown Colony
 
• BELIZIAN 
n. 1835 – a native or inhabitant of Belize
 
​• BELK
n. 1. 1885 Eng. dial. – a heavy fall or blow
n. 2. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – a belch, eructation
n. 3. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – condition of mind or body
vb. 1. 1648 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – to boil, to heave like a boiling fluid; to throb
vb. 2. 1790 Eng. dial. – to belch, to eructate
vb. 3. 1844 Eng. dial. – to throw down or strike heavily; to thump
vb. 4. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – to lounge idly; to bask in the sun
vb. 5. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – to roll over, to fall down
 
• BELKER
n. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – anything very large of its kind
 
• BELKIN FULL
adj. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – full to repletion
 
• BELKING
adj. 1. 1885 Eng. dial. – unwieldy, large
adj. 2. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – lounging, lying lazily
n. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – a beating
 
• BELKUPPING
n. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – hiccupping
 
• BELKY
n. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – an obese person or animal; a glutton
 
• BELL
n. 1. 1483 – a bubble formed in a liquid
n. 2. 1510 – the cry of a stag or buck at rutting time
n. 3. 1750 Sc. & Eng. dial. – the blossom of a plant
n. 4. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – a small watery blister
n. 5. Bk1898 Sc. – the top of a hill; the highest part of a slope; a knoll
n. 6. 1905 Sc. – a bellman; a town-crier with a bell
n. 7. Bk1911 Sc. – a blaze or white mark on a horse’s face
n. 8. 1951 US teen sl. – a telephone call
n. 9. 1972 US sl. – a hotel doorman; a bellboy
n. 10. 1988 Aust. sl. – the clitoris
n. 11. 2001 UK sl. – the  head of the penis
vb. 1. a1000 – to bellow, to roar, to shout out, to cry, to make a loud noise
vb. 2. a1225 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – to swell up
vb. 3. 1382 obs. – to be puffed up or proud
vb. 4. 1596 – to utter loudly, to bellow forth
vb. 5. 1598 obs. exc. Eng. dial. – to bubble
vb. 6. 1865 Eng. dial. – of animals: to bellow, to roar
vb. 7. 1870 – to cause to swell or bulge out
vb. 8. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – of a sore: to throb, to be inflamed
vb. 9. Bk1898 Eng. dial. – to cough hoarsely
vb. 10. Bk1898 Eng. dial. obs. – to distribute ale
vb. 11. 1934 sl. – to get a driver to stop by ringing the warning bell on a police car
vb. 12. 1942 Amer. dial. – of a dog: to bay
vb. 13. 1973 US sl. – to telephone someone
 
• BELLA
n. Bk1911 Sc. – a bonfire
 
• BELLACITY
n. 1656 obs. – warlikeness
 
• BELLADONNA
n. 2001 UK sl. – extremely potent hybrid marijuana
 
• BELLAFATIMA
n. 1. Bk1913-17 Amer. dial. – something or somebody excellent or splendid
n. 2. Bk1942 Amer. college sl. – (as ‘bella-fatima’) an attractive girl
 
• BELL A GOOSE
vb. 1965 Amer. dial. – to do the simplest thing
 
• BELLAM
n. Bk1911 Sc. – a stroke
 
• BELLAMOUR
n. 1596 obs. – a loved one of either sex; a lady love, a fair lady
 
• BELLAMY
n. 1225 – a good or intimate friend; a boon companion → obs.
 
• BELLAN
vb. 1814 – to poison → Eng. dial.
 
• BELLANDINE
n. 1911 – a broil, a squabble → Sc. (Bk.)
 
• BELLANE
n. 1513 – whalebone → obs.
 
• BELLANED
adj. 1. 1834 – afflicted with asthma, esp. as the result of lead-poisoning → Eng. dial.
adj. 2. 1882 – of men or animals: poisoned by particles of lead ore → Eng. dial.
 
• BELLA QUEEN
n. 2003 – a violent man → S. Afr. homosexual sl.
 
• BELLARIES
n. 1623 – banquetting dishes → obs.
 
• BELLART
n. 1796 – the man who had charge of the bull at a bull-baiting → Eng. dial. obs.
 
• BELLAS
vb. 1881 – to shout loudly; of oxen: to low → Eng. dial.
 
• BELLATORY
adj. 1657 – warlike, of war → obs.
 
• BELLATRICE
n. 1656 – a woman well skilled in war; a virago → obs.
 
• BELLAVIEW
n. 1611 – a fine view or outlook → obs.
 
• BELL-BASTARD
n. 1756 – the illegitimate child of a woman who is herself illegitimate → Eng. dial.
 
• BELL BONNET
n. 1970 – a cloth bonnet worn by women for protection from the sun → Amer. dial.
 
• BELL-BOY
n. 1861 – a boy who answers the bell in a hotel; a hotel page-boy → US
 
• BELL CAPTAIN
n. 1926 – one who supervises a group of bell-boys → US
 
• BELL-COW
n. 1. 1896 – a leader, a big shot; a person who tries to appear important → Amer. dial.
n. 2. 1986 – in marketing: a popular, high-profit item → US sl.
n. 3. 1999 – in baseball: the leader of a pitching staff → baseball usage (Bk.)
 
• BELLDO!
int. 1898 – dear me! well! → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
 
• BELL-DREAM
n. 1200 – the sound or music of a bell → obs.
 
• BELLE
adj. 1668 – pretty, handsome → obs.
n. 1. 1622 – a handsome woman, esp. one who dresses so as to set off her personal charms; a fair lady, a fair one
n. 2. 1932 – a good-looking, young homosexual → US homosexual sl.
n. 3. 1940 – a male homosexual who habitually imitates feminine behaviour → homosexual sl.
n. 4. 1953 – a popular girl → US sl. (Bk.)
 
• BELLED
adj. 1568 – bald → obs.
 
• BELLE DAME
n. 1. 1767 – fair lady, belle; a fashionable lady
n. 2. 1881 – an old term for a grandmother (Bk.)
 
• BELLED SNAKE
n. 1917 – a rattlesnake → Amer. dial.
 
• BELLE LAIDE
n. 1908 – an attractively ugly woman
 
• BELLE MÈRE
n. 1995 – a mother-in-law → euphemism (Bk.)

• BELLEN
vb. 1852 – to swell → obs. (Bk.)
 
• BELL END 
n. 1. 1973 – the head of the penis → UK sl.
n. 2. 1992 – a term of abuse; a stupid or unpleasant person → sl.
 
• BELL ENDER 
n. 2001 – a term of abuse; a stupid or unpleasant person → sl.
 
• BELLE PASSION
n. 1711 – the tender passion, love
 
• BELLER
n. 1898 – one who pours out or hands round ale → Eng. dial. obs. (Bk.)
vb. 1827 – to bubble up → Sc. obs.
 
• BELLESNOGGLE
n. 1968 – St. Nicholas, Santa Claus or St. Nicholas’ servant whose duty it was to punish naughty children or reward good ones → Amer. dial.
 
• BELLE STAR
n. 1972 – a police officer → homosexual sl. (Bk.)
 
• BELLETER
n. 1891 – a bell-founder → hist.
 
• BELL-HALLOWER
n. 1549 – a priest who uses blessing bells
 
• BELL-HOP
n. 1. 1885 – a hotel page-boy; a bellboy → US
n. 2. 1929 – a member of the US Marine Corps → US sl.
 
• BELL-HOPPER
n. 1881 – a hotel page-boy; a bell-boy → US
 
• BELL-HORSE
n. 1. 1876 – a title bestowed on anyone in the position of leader of a party, literally or figuratively → Eng. dial. (Bk.)
n. 2. 1891 – a workman who finds it to his advantage to exert himself more than his fellow employees, in order to give grounds for the discharge of those who cannot keep up with the pace set by him → Eng. sl. (Bk.)
 
• BELL-HOUSE
n. 1652 – a church tower, a belfry → Sc. & Eng. dial.