bellows

¹

[ bel-ohz, -uhz ]

noun

, (used with a singular or plural verb)

1. a device for producing a strong current of air, consisting of a chamber that can be expanded to draw in air through a valve and contracted to expel it through a tube.
2. anything resembling or suggesting bellows in form, as the collapsible part of a camera or enlarger.
3. the lungs.

Bellows

²

[ bel-ohz ]

noun

1. George Wesley, 1882–1925, U.S. painter and lithographer.

bellows

/ ˈbɛləʊz /

noun

1. Also calledpair of bellows an instrument consisting of an air chamber with flexible sides or end, a means of compressing it, an inlet valve, and a constricted outlet that is used to create a stream of air, as for producing a draught for a fire or for sounding organ pipes
2. photog a telescopic light-tight sleeve, connecting the lens system of some cameras to the body of the instrument
3. a flexible corrugated element used as an expansion joint, pump, or means of transmitting axial motion

Other Words From

• bellows·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bellows¹

before 900; Middle English bel(o ) wes (plural), Old English belg, short for blǣst belg, plural belgas blast-bag; cognate with Dutch blaasbalg, German Blasebalg, Old Norse belgr. See belly

Word History and Origins

Origin of bellows¹

C16: from plural of Old English belig belly

Example Sentences

The bell tower bellows loudly when a little muscle power is put into it.

From The Daily Beast

Some operate like bellows, creating an accordion-like sound as they aspirate.

From The Daily Beast

Another Maine operative, a Democrat who has worked with Bellows agreed.

From The Daily Beast

“Susan Collins was elected 18 years ago, when I was graduating from college,” Bellows told The Daily Beast.

From The Daily Beast

To be clear, Bellows is not a millennial, but rather half a generation older.

From The Daily Beast

The bellows, being expanded by the wind, pulls down the pallet in the wind-chest; the bellows does all the hard work.

From Project Gutenberg

Owing to its inertia, no heavy bellows weight can be set into motion rapidly.

From Project Gutenberg

Wind from the organ bellows enters the pipe foot F, and raises the pressure in the chamber C.

From Project Gutenberg

The box B is permanently supplied with air under pressure from the bellows.

From Project Gutenberg

There were twenty-two stops on the Swell, and the Swell bellows was placed inside the Swell box.

From Project Gutenberg