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Bellows
Definitions
- 1 plural of Bellow form-of, plural
- 1 A device for delivering pressurized air in a controlled quantity to a controlled location. At its most simple terms a bellows is a container which is deformable in such a way as to alter its volume which has an outlet or outlets where one wishes to blow air.
"When wood fires were common, so were bellows for helping start them."
- 2 plural of bellow form-of, plural
- 3 (used in the plural) a mechanical device that blows a strong current of air; used to make a fire burn more fiercely or to sound a musical instrument wordnet
- 4 Any flexible container or enclosure, as one used to cover a moving joint.
"The three motors on each bogie are force ventilated from a blower mounted in the adjacent nose-end compartment of the superstructure, the air being led by ducts and flexible bellows connections to the air inlet at the commutator end of the motor."
- 5 The lungs. archaic, informal
"“Why, who should J. B. mean by Joe, but old Joe Bagstock—Joseph—your slave—Joe, Ma’am? Here! Here’s the man! Here are the Bagstock bellows, Ma’am!” cried the Major, striking himself a sounding blow on the chest."
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- 6 Flexible, light-tight enclosures connecting the lensboard and the camera back.
- 7 That which fans the fire of hatred, jealousy, etc. figuratively
- 1 To operate a bellows; to direct air at (something) using a bellows. intransitive, transitive
"[…] I was recommended to the place as a man who could give another man as good as he brought, and I took it. It’s easier than bellowsing and hammering."
- 2 third-person singular simple present indicative of bellow form-of, indicative, present, singular, third-person
- 3 To expand and contract like a bellows. figuratively, intransitive
"[…] [the dogs] sprang up, and, with a grand spraying of the crisp snow as they fleetly clambered up the steep side, they were with us in an incredibly short time, with pink tongues protruding, sides bellowsing, and sterns wagging."
- 4 To fold up like a bellows; to accordion. transitive
"Without being tight […] the boot leg should fit close. The ankle should be supple as a stocking, and “bellowsed” to make sure of suppleness."
Etymology
From Middle English belwes, plural of belu, belwe, a northern form of beli, from Old English bæliġ, northern form of bielġ, from Proto-Germanic *balgiz. Compare German Balg. See also belly. For the pronunciation /ˈbɛl.əs/, compare bodice, gallows.
From Middle English belwes, plural of belu, belwe, a northern form of beli, from Old English bæliġ, northern form of bielġ, from Proto-Germanic *balgiz. Compare German Balg. See also belly. For the pronunciation /ˈbɛl.əs/, compare bodice, gallows.
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