bellows
/ˈbɛl.oʊz/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 3.07 in modern English
12
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A device for delivering pressurized air in a controlled quantity to a controlled location. At its most simple terms a bellows is a container which is deformable in such a way as to alter its volume which has an outlet or outlets where one wishes to blow air.
noun
Flexible, light-tight enclosures connecting the lensboard and the camera back.
noun
That which fans the fire of hatred, jealousy, etc.
Example Sentences
- "When wood fires were common, so were bellows for helping start them."
- "That concertina was a wonder in its way. The handles that was on it first was wore out long ago, and he'd made new ones of braided rope yarn. And the bellows was patched in more places than a cranberry picker's overalls."
- "The three motors on each bogie are force ventilated from a blower mounted in the adjacent nose-end compartment of the superstructure, the air being led by ducts and flexible bellows connections to the air inlet at the commutator end of the motor."
- "“Why, who should J. B. mean by Joe, but old Joe Bagstock—Joseph—your slave—Joe, Ma’am? Here! Here’s the man! Here are the Bagstock bellows, Ma’am!” cried the Major, striking himself a sounding blow on the chest."
- "[…] I was recommended to the place as a man who could give another man as good as he brought, and I took it. It’s easier than bellowsing and hammering."
- "So bellowsed, all the kindled soul of Hugh Became a still white hell of brooding ire, And through his veins regenerating fire Ran, driving out the lethargy of pain."
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bʰelǵʰ- Proto-Indo-European *-is Proto-Indo-European *bʰólǵʰis Proto-Germanic *balgiz Proto-West Germanic *balgi Old English bielġ Middle English bely Middle English belwes English bellows From Middle English belwes, plural of belu, belwe, a northern form of beli, from Old English bæliġ, northern form of bielġ, from Proto-Germanic *balgiz. Compare German Balg. See also belly. For the pronunciation /ˈbɛl.əs/, compare bodice, gallows.
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: belwes, bæliġ, *balgiz
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈbɛl.oʊz/
- British English: /ˈbɛl.əʊz/