Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1934 (SND Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1701-1731, 1797, 1934
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BELLY, v.1 and n.3 "To eat or drink voraciously" (Bnff. 1866 Gregor D.Bnff. 217). In Mod.Eng. used only of bulging out as of a sail.
1. v.Bnff.2 1934:
He spak t' naebody, bit sat there bellyin' in o' 'im as gin he wiz faimishin'.
Phr. "to Belly one's self o' Water, to take a bellyfull of water" (Abd. 1825 Jam.2).
2. n. in phr. over the belly, over the bellies, in spite of.Sc. 1701–1731 R. Wodrow Analecta (Maitland Club 1842) II. 171:
[He] tells them, that if they entered there, it should be over his belly.Sc. 1721 T. Boston Works (1854) X. 559:
Over the belly of all opposition, God brings his elect out of their spiritual bondage.Sh. 1797 G. Goudie Diary of Rev. J. Mill (S.H.S. 1889) 113:
Avoid that aggravated sin and guilt they bring on their own souls by intruding ministers into Parishes over the bellies of a reclaiming people.
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"Belly v.1, n.3". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 18 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/belly_v1_n3>
