belch

views updated Jun 11 2018

belch / belch/ • v. 1. [intr.] emit gas noisily from the stomach through the mouth.2. [tr.] (often belch out/forth/into) (esp. of a chimney) send (smoke or flames) out or up: a factory chimney belches out smoke. ∎  [intr.] (often belch from) (of smoke or flames) pour out from a chimney or other opening: flames belch from the wreckage.• n. an act of belching: he gave a loud belch.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

belch

views updated Jun 11 2018

belch XV. of uncert. orig.; perh. shortening of OE. be(a)lċettan.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

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