belt English · revision 5208

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=a. 1000|origins=la balteus}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /belt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|belt]], [[inh|ang|belt]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) from [[gem-pro|*baltjaz]], the source also of Old High German balz and Old Norse belti,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) an early Germanic borrowing of [[la|balteus|t=girdle, sword belt]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(MWU 2024) which Varro says is an Etruscan word.^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ A broad flat strip of leather or similar material worn around the waist: before 1000 in the OED.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ As a mark of rank or distinction it is from the mid-14th century,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and boxing championship belts from 1812.^(Etymonline) A broad stripe encircling something is from the 1660s,^(Etymonline) and a broad strip or tract of any kind, without the idea of encircling, as in ''Bible belt'', by 1808.^(Etymonline) The mechanical belt that drives wheels is from 1795.^(Etymonline) ''Below the belt'', unfair, is from 1889, from boxing;^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) ''under one's belt'' was at first literal, in one's stomach (1839), and figurative by 1931.^(Etymonline) ''Tighten one's belt'' is from 1841 in the OED.^(OED 1989) The verb, to fasten with a belt, is from the early 14th century,^(Etymonline) to thrash with a belt from the 1640s, and to hit in general from 1838.^(Etymonline) To sing or speak forcefully is from 1949.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * a. 1000 – a waist band.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1340 – a mark of rank.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1795 – a machine belt.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1808 – a zone or tract.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1838 – verb, to hit.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1889 – ''below the belt''.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1949 – to sing loudly.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A band of leather or cloth worn around the waist.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A long area with particular features; a [[zone]]: ''the corn belt''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A loop of material that drives wheels or carries things in a machine: ''a conveyor belt''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A [[seat belt]].^(AHD)

+ # A belt worn as a sign of rank, as in [[judo]] or [[karate]].^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To fasten with a belt.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(informal)'' To hit hard.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(informal)'' To sing loudly and forcefully.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[belted]]

+ * [[beltless]]

+ * [[belt up]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[baldric]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}