paunch

plural paunches

1. The first compartment of the stomach of a ruminant, the rumen.
2. The contents of this stomach in a slaughtered animal, viewed as food or a byproduct.
3. The belly of a human, especially a large, fat protruding one.

   See also: pooch

   3 more examples

   Since retiring from athletics, he has developed a paunch.

   Haunch Paunch and Jowl—so that's the derisive picture the radicals had drawn of me. The lean, drawn starvelings in their dream-stupefied state were jealous of my well filled out, prosperous form. It had not yet reached the terrible proportions of obesity that years in a swivel chair on the judicial bench had later given me. But I suppose I was beginning to get fat.

   1924 July 28 [1923 August 28], Samuel Badisch Ornitz, “Fifth Period”, in Haunch Paunch and Jowl, eighth printing, New York, N.Y.: Boni and Liveright, section III, page 218

   “And another sort of weak, flailing blow to the paunch. Neither of these two are in any condition to be fighting.”

   2022 July 26, William Meny & Paul Simms, “The Night Market” (10:28 from the start), in What We Do in the Shadows, season 4, episode 4, spoken by Ringmaster (Nick Corirossi)

   Synonyms: potbelly

4. nauticalA paunch mat.
5. The thickened rim of a bell, struck by the clapper.

present singular third person paunches · participle present paunching · participle past paunched · past paunched

1. To remove the internal organs of a ruminant, prior to eating.

   (Caliban) Why, as I told thee, 'tis a custom with him I' th' afternoon to sleep: there thou may'st brain him, Having first seiz'd his books; or with a log Batter his skull, or paunch him with a stake, Or cut his wezand with thy knife

   1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]