Paunch
/pɔːnt͡ʃ/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Moderate ·College level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The first compartment of the stomach of a ruminant, the rumen.
- 2 a protruding abdomen wordnet
- 3 The contents of this stomach in a slaughtered animal, viewed as food or a byproduct.
- 4 The belly of a human, especially a large, fat protruding one.
"See also: pooch"
- 5 A paunch mat.
Show 1 more definition
- 6 The thickened rim of a bell, struck by the clapper.
Verb
- 1 To remove the internal organs of a ruminant, prior to eating.
"(Caliban) Why, as I told thee, 'tis a custom with him I' th' afternoon to sleep: there thou may'st brain him, Having first seiz'd his books; or with a log Batter his skull, or paunch him with a stake, Or cut his wezand with thy knife"
Example
More examples"Around the corner comes a paunch. The owner is right behind."
Etymology
From Middle English paunche, from Old Northern French panche, Old French pance (French panse), from Latin pantex.