Paunch

Pronunciation

• IPA: /pɔːntʃ/
• some accents IPA: /pɑːntʃ/
• Rhymes: -ɔːntʃ, -ɑːntʃ

Origin

Early Modern French pance (modern spelling panse), from Latin pantex.

Full definition of paunch

Noun

1. The first stomach of a ruminant, the rumen.
2. The abdomen or belly of a human or animal, especially a large, protruding one.
3. (nautical) A paunch mat.
4. The thickened rim of a bell, struck by the clapper.

Synonyms

• (protruding belly) See also .

Related terms

• paunchy

Verb

1. To remove the internal organs of a ruminant, such as a hare or rabbit prior to eating.
• 1610, , by William Shakespeare, act 3 scene 2(Caliban)Why, as I told thee, 'tis a custom with himI' th' afternoon to sleep: there thou may'st brain him,Having first seiz'd his books; or with a logBatter his skull, or paunch him with a stake,Or cut his wezand with thy knife