Obs. [f. BELLY sb. + PIECE.]
1. The flesh covering the belly; the peritoneum.
1591. Percivall, Sp. Dict., Ijada, the small ribs, the collike, the belly peece of a fish.
1633. P. Fletcher, Purple Isl., II. note. The muscles of the belly-peece, or the inner rimme of the belly.
a. 1659. Cleveland, Pet. Poem, 31. My Belly-pieces are so fat, they will If toasted, serve for Belly-pieces still.
2. The part of the dress covering the belly; an apron.
1689. Shadwell, Bury Fair, II. i. My fat Host’s Belly-pieces.
3. The piece forming the belly of a violin, etc.
1609. Douland, Ornithop. Microl., 22. Let it be couered with a belly peece well smoothed … like the belly of a lute.
4. A concubine.
1632. Randolph, Jealous Lovers, Wks. (1668), 37. Blush not, belly-piece.
