paunch

American  

[pawnch, pahnch] / pɔntʃ, pɑntʃ /

noun

1. a large and protruding belly; potbelly.

2. the belly or abdomen.

3. the rumen.

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paunch British  

/ pɔːntʃ /

noun

1. the belly or abdomen, esp when protruding

2. another name for rumen

3. nautical a thick mat that prevents chafing

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verb

1. to stab in the stomach; disembowel

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• paunched
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of paunch

1325–75; Middle English paunche < Anglo-French, for Middle French pance < Latin panticēs (plural) bowels

Explanation

A paunch is a fat stomach. You might suck in your stomach and tighten your belt to hide your paunch. You might worry that if you accept your dream job as a cupcake taster, you might develop a paunch — or maybe you don't care too much about that, figuring you'll just buy new pants if you need to. While today a paunch is specifically a chubby or protruding belly, it once meant simply "stomach," from the Latin panticem, "belly," and it may be related to panus, or "swelling."