belfry

bel·fry

B0168800 (bĕl′frē)n. pl. bel·fries 1. A bell tower, especially one attached to a building.2. The part of a tower or steeple in which bells are hung.

[Middle English belfrei, from Old North French belfroi, alteration of Old French berfrei, berfroi; see bhergh- in Indo-European roots.]

bel′fried adj.Word History: The words bell and belfry seem obviously related, but in fact the bel- portion of belfry had nothing to do with bells until comparatively recently. Belfry goes back to a compound formed in the prehistoric common ancestor of the Germanic languages. It is generally agreed that the second part of this compound is the element *frij-, meaning "peace, safety." The first element is either *bergan, "to protect," which would yield a compound meaning "a defensive place of shelter," or *berg-, "a high place," which would yield a compound meaning "a high place of safety, tower." Whatever the meaning of the original Germanic source, its Old French descendant berfrei, which first meant "siege tower," came to mean "watchtower." Presumably because bells were used in these towers, the word was applied to bell towers as well. The Old North French alteration belfroi, which must have reminded Middle English speakers of their native word belle (our bell), entered Middle English with the sense "bell tower."

belfry

(ˈbɛlfrɪ) n, pl -fries1. (Architecture) the part of a tower or steeple in which bells are hung2. (Architecture) a tower or steeple. Compare campanile3. (Architecture) the timber framework inside a tower or steeple on which bells are hung4. (Military) (formerly) a movable tower for attacking fortifications[C13: from Old French berfrei, of Germanic origin; compare Middle High German bercfrit fortified tower, Medieval Latin berfredus tower]

bel•fry

(ˈbɛl fri)

n., pl. -fries. 1. a bell tower either attached to a church or other building or standing apart. 2. the part of a steeple or other structure in which a bell is hung. 3. a frame of timberwork that encloses a bell. [1225–75; Middle English belfray, berfray < Old French < Frankish; compare Middle High German ber(c)frit siegetower]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	belfry - a bell tower; usually stands alone unattached to a buildingcampanilebell tower - a tower that supports or shelters a bell
	2.	belfry - a room (often at the top of a tower) where bells are hungbell tower - a tower that supports or shelters a bellroom - an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling; "the rooms were very small but they had a nice view"

Translations

钟楼

belfry

(ˈbelfri) – plural ˈbelfries – noun the part of a (church) tower in which bells are hung. 钟楼

belfry

have bats in the belfry

To be crazy; to act, think, or behave in a foolish or nonsensical manner. Tommy must have bats in the belfry if he thinks he can convince our mother to let him get a tattoo for his birthday. There's an old lady who stands on the corner yelling at strangers all day. I think she might have bats in the belfry.See also: bats, belfry, have

have bats in (one's) belfry

To be crazy; to act, think, or behave in a foolish or nonsensical manner. Tommy has bats in his belfry if he thinks he can convince our mother to let him get a tattoo for his birthday. There's an old lady who stands on the corner yelling at strangers all day. I think she might have bats in her belfry.See also: bats, belfry, have

have got bats in (one's) belfry

To be crazy; to act, think, or behave in a foolish or nonsensical manner. Tommy has got bats in his belfry if he thinks he can convince our mother to let him get a tattoo for his birthday. There's an old lady who stands on the corner yelling at strangers all day. I think she's got bats in her belfry.See also: bats, belfry, have

have bats in one's belfry

Inf. Fig. to be crazy. You must really have bats in your belfry if you think I'll put up with that kind of stuff. Pay no attention to her. She has bats in her belfry.See also: bats, belfry, have

bats in one's belfry, have

Be crazy or at least very eccentric, as in Sally thought her aunt's belief in ghosts indicated she had bats in her belfry. This term in effect likens the bat's seemingly erratic flight in the dark to ideas flying around in a person's head. [Early 1900s] See also: bats, have

have bats in the belfry

have bats in your belfry

OLD-FASHIONEDIf someone has bats in the belfry they are crazy. Don't say that to anyone else or they'll think you've got bats in the belfry! Note: The belfry is the top part of a church tower where the bells are kept, and bats resting there would fly about wildly when disturbed by the bells being rung. In this expression, the belfry represents the person's head. See also: bats, belfry, have

have bats in the (or your) belfry

be eccentric or crazy. informal This expression refers to the way in which bats in an enclosed space fly about wildly if they are disturbed. c. 1901 G. W. Peck Peck's Red-Headed Boy They all thought a crazy man with bats in his belfry had got loose. See also: bats, belfry, have

have ˌbats in the ˈbelfry

(old-fashioned, informal) be crazy or eccentricSee also: bats, belfry, have

have bats in one’s belfry

(...ˈbɛlfri) tv. to be crazy. (see also bats. Have got can replace have.) Pay no attention to her. She has bats in her belfry. See also: bats, belfry, have

have bats in (one's) belfry

To behave in an eccentric, bizarre manner.See also: bats, belfry, have

bats in one's belfry, to have

To be slightly crazy or quite eccentric. The term alludes to the bat’s seemingly erratic flight in the dark, which is transferred to thoughts flying about in the head. In reality, the bat has a sophisticated sonar system whose nature came to light only recently. In flight it keeps up a constant twittering noise that bounces back from solid objects in its path. This echo enables the animal to avoid actually bumping into obstacles. Nevertheless, bats have long been associated with craziness. See also blind as a bat.See also: bats, have

belfry

bel·fry

belfry

bel•fry

belfry

belfry

have bats in the belfry

have bats in (one's) belfry

have got bats in (one's) belfry

have bats in one's belfry

bats in one's belfry, have

have bats in the belfry

have bats in your belfry

have bats in the (or your) belfry

have ˌbats in the ˈbelfry

have bats in one’s belfry

have bats in (one's) belfry

bats in one's belfry, to have

belfry

belfry

Belfry

Belfry

belfry

belfry

Synonyms for belfry

noun a bell tower

Synonyms

Related Words

noun a room (often at the top of a tower) where bells are hung

Related Words