swagbelly

English

Alternative forms

  • swag belly

Etymology

From swag (to droop; to sag) + belly.

Noun

swagbelly (plural swagbellies)

  1. A prominent, overhanging belly.
    • 1755, Tobias Smollett, translating Miguel de Cervantes, Don Quixote, Volume 1, II.1:
      Sancho Zancas [] in the picture, was represented as a person of a short stature, swag belly, and long spindle shanks [] .
    • 1935, Howard, Robert Ervin, “The Haunter of the Pits”, in The Hour of the Dragon:
      He swept his gaze over the short, squat throat, the hairy swagbelly, and the mighty breast, swelling in giant arches like twin shields.
  2. Hence, a person with such a belly.
  3. (medicine) A distended abdomen, especially caused by a tumour or enlarged organ; a physconia[1].

Synonyms

Derived terms

References

  1. 1839, Robley Dunglison, “SWAGBELLY”, in Medical Lexicon. A New Dictionary of Medical Science, [], 2nd edition, Philadelphia, Pa.: Lea and Blanchard, successors to Carey and Co., OCLC 6188056:
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