paunch

Meanings

Noun

• The first compartment of the stomach of a ruminant, the rumen.
• The contents of this stomach in a slaughtered animal, viewed as food or a byproduct.
• The belly of a human, especially a large, fat protruding one.
• A paunch mat.
• The thickened rim of a bell, struck by the clapper.

Verb

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

Origin

• From Middle English paunche, from Old Northern French panche, Old French pance (French panse), from Latin pantex.