Navel

Pronunciation

• enPR: nā'vÉ™l, IPA: /ˈneɪvÉ™l/
• Rhymes: -eɪvÉ™l
• Homophones: naval

Alternative forms

• navil obsolete

Origin

From Middle English, navel, navele, from Old English nafela, from Proto-Germanic *nabalô (compare West Frisian nâle, Dutch navel, German Nabel), from Proto-Indo-European *h₃nobʰilos (compare Irish imleac, Latin umbilicus, Ancient Greek ὀμφαλός (omphalós)), diminutive of *h₃nobʰ- (compare English nave). More at nave.

Full definition of navel

Noun

1. (anatomy) The indentation or bump remaining in the abdomen of mammals where the umbilical cord was attached before birth.
2. The central part or point of anything; the middle.Within the navel of this hideous wood,
   Immured in cypress shades, a sorcerer dwells. — Milton.
3. (historical) An eye on the underside of a carronade for securing it to a carriage.

Synonyms

• belly button colloquial
• umbilicus

Derived terms

• navel-gazing
• navel orange

Anagrams

• Alven, venal