Meaning of belly out | Babel Free

Definitions

1. To bulge or billow outward.
   intransitive
2. To cause to bulge or billow outward.
   transitive

Examples

“[…] the Shape⟳ of the Hive is recommended to be like⟳ an Egg, with one End⟳ cut⟳ off, as People order⟳ it when they are about to eat⟳ it, it may consist⟳ of twelve Straw-Wreaths or Rowls, according to the Bigness of it; the three first Rowls of one Magnitude, and about a Foot or somewhat more in Diameter, the four next above them larger, bellying out a little each beyond his Fellow, that the Combs may be more firmly fastned […]”

“The most considerable and most elevated parts consist⟳ of six columns, the capitals of three of which belly out, while those of the three others, which are parallel to them, are guttered […]”

“In a kind of stupor I watched all hands take⟳ to the rigging, and slowly but surely she came round to the wind; the sails fluttered, and then bellied out as the wind came into them.”

“1944, Caleb Milne, “I Dream⟳ of the Day...” Letters from Caleb Milne, Africa, 1942-1943, Woodstock, NY: Van Rees Press⟳, Chapter 4, p. 21, Now and then the street bellies out into an ancient lime-stone square filled with fiacres and peddlers, pausing in the loud sunshine.”

“1834, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, “Happiness” (written in 1791), lines 30-31, The scene is changed and Fortune’s gale Shall belly out each prosperous sail⟳.”

“Avoid⟳ a broadcloth shirt, in the shape⟳ of a shapeless garment with sleeves (one of the new fashions). It looks colic-y, with the wind bellying it out in all directions as you walk⟳ along.”

“Rushing downstream, taking out fathoms of line too freely given, the crafty savage returns on his tracks, swimming deep down in the bed of the stream, and trusting to the weight of the water to belly out the line and leave⟳ the fisherman under the mistaken impression that the intended victim is still pursuing a downward course, the fish⟳ eventually brings such a strain⟳ upon the line that either it or the rod, or perhaps both, give⟳ way […]”

“Now and anon a little puff of breeze caught the foresail and bellied it out for a moment, only to let⟳ it flap back against the mast, limp and slack, once more.”

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