[f. prec. vb.]
1. An eructation.
1570. Levins, Manip., 58. A Belche, ructus.
1574. Hellowes, Gueuara’s Ep. (1577), 132. The sight thereof moueth belkes, and makes the stomach wamble.
1580. Hollyband, Treas. Fr. Tong, Vne route, a belch.
1763. Churchill, P. Professor. Salute the royal babe in Welsh, And send forth gutturals like a belch.
2. fig. Said of the sea, hell, a volcano, cannon.
1513. Douglas, Æneis, VII. vi. 110. Pluto eik … Reputtis that bismyng belch haitfull to se.
1642. H. More, Song of Soul, II. iii. IV. xxii. O belch of hell! O horrid blasphemy!
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., II. II. VI. vii. 118. And at every new belch, the women … shout.
b. A slang name for poor beer: see quot. 1796.
1706. E. Ward, Hud. Rediv., I. VII. 18. A little House, Where Porters do their Belch carouse.
1712. Henley, Spect., No. 396, ¶ 2. Owing chiefly to the use of brown Jugs, muddy Belch, [etc.].
1796. Grose, Class. Dict., Belch, all sorts of beer: that liquor being apt to cause eructation.
1858. A. Mayhew, Paved w. Gold, III. iii. 265. Whilst my mates are drinking the ‘belch.’
