fire-belliedadj.
/ˈfʌɪəbɛlɪd/, U.S. /ˈfaɪ(ə)rˌbɛlid/ In the names of animals, esp. amphibians: having a bright red, orange, or yellow belly.Recorded earliest in fire-bellied toad n. at Compounds.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > animal body > markings or colourings > [adjective] > flame-coloured > having a flame-coloured belly
fire-bellied1866
1866 Proc. Zool. Soc. App. 616 Fire-bellied Toads. Bombinator igneus. Purchased.
1881 Bazaar, Exchange & Mart 19 Aug. 184/3 The toad-like, fire-bellied frog of the Continent..finds its way to our British dealers some summers in considerable plenty.
1977 W. Serle & G. J. Morel Field Guide Birds W. Afr. 165 (caption) Fire-bellied Woodpecker Mesopicos pyrrhogaster. Golden-olive mantle; crimson rump and mid-line of belly.
2010 M. Goldish Little Newts 11 Many kinds of newts, such as this Japanese fire-bellied newt, have colorful skin.
Compounds
fire-bellied toad n. any of several small toads of the Eurasian genus Bombina, with a red or yellow underside marked with black; esp. B. bombina of eastern Europe.
ΚΠ
1866Fire-bellied Toads [see main sense].
1892 Daily News 5 May 5/4 The little ‘fire-bellied toad’, of..poisonous properties.
1951 Billboard 7 July 39/1 Dr. William H. Mann, director of the Washington Zoo,..requested the Hagenbecks to furnish a few fire-bellied toads if possible.
2010 Observer 21 Mar. (Guide to Pets) 47/1 The fire-bellied toad is semi-aquatic, so it needs access to both water and land.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2015; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1866