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bellows - What does it mean?

Definition of 'bellows'

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) belwes, plural of belu, belw, a northern form of beli, from (etyl) . Compare German (m). See also (m).

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.
  • * |chapter=8
    • |title= Mr. Pratt's Patients |passage=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.}}
  • Any flexible container or enclosure, as one used to cover a moving joint.
  • (informal|or|archaic) The lungs.
  • (photography) Flexible, light-tight enclosures connecting the lensboard and the camera back.
    • Usage notes
    * "Bellows" is used with both singular and plural verbs. One can even find "A bellows is/was".
    Related terms
    * belly * blow

    Etymology 2

    See bellow

    Noun

    (head)

    • Verb

    (head)
  • (bellow)

    • Anagrams

    *

    Similar to 'bellows'

    bollocks, bowels, blocks, ballocks, bilious, bellies, belles, bullies, bylaws, blacks, blooks, bewails, billies, billows, bialys, bullocks, belays, boules, bleaks, baillies, bailies, baulks, belies, bailees, blahgs, ballows, bowlegs, beeless, bullous, blawgs, bywalks, beylics, bowless, baileys, blowess, boolies, blowies, ballas, blueys, bialies, boilies