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

• paunched adjective

Etymology

Origin of paunch

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

Example Sentences

A few of them had graying hair, some were going bald, and I spied a paunch or two.

From The Wall Street Journal

Taking his top off and proudly parading his paunch is a regular occurrence in Fury’s news conferences.

From BBC

It’s his first year in the red suit, and this 40-year-old rookie Santa lacks the paunch and natural white beard of older, more experienced Kris Kringles.

From Los Angeles Times

Charlotte insists there's a paunch, but nobody else sees it.

From Salon

The extra paunch would also have helped these penguins stay warm in the water.

From New York Times