. . . After ten minutes the peal changed, and only a single bell continued to ring. This was notified by the cry bells go single, and five minutes afterwards, by that of 'bells down.' . . . Presently the head-master . . . would descend from his library: or the second master . . . would appear at the archway near Sixth Chamber, and the warning voice would be heard 'Gabell' or 'Williams through,' 'Williams,' or 'Ridding in.' Straightway there would be a general rush, the college-boys darting across the quadrangle in the rear of the Præfect of Chapel; while the Commoners hurried in, keeping up a continuous stream from their more distant quarters.
Bellswagger.—See Belswagger.
Bell-Topped, Bell-Knobbed, ppl. adj. (harlotry).—Said of a man whose penis is considerably thicker at the top end than at the root or middle.
Bell-Topper, subs. (popular).—A silk hat. [From bell, alluding to the shape, + top, from its position when worn, in relation to the rest of the body + er.] For synonyms, see Golgotha.
1885. G. A. Sala, in Daily Telegraph, Aug. 5, p. 5, col. 4. His very bell-topper hat had been garlanded with flowers.
Belly-Ache, subs. (vulgar).—A pain in the bowels; a colic.
1881. New York Times, Dec. 18, quoted in N. and Q., 6 S., v., 65. Belly-ache. To grumble without good cause. Employés bellyache at being overworked, or when they fancy themselves underfed, etc.
Belly-Bender, subs. (American).—A boy's term for weak and unsafe ice.
Belly-Bound, adj. (vulgar).—Constipated; costive.
Belly-Bumper or Belly-Buster. TO TAKE A BELLY-BUSTER, phr. (American).—To ride down a hill in a sled lying on one's stomach, an amusement confined, it hardly needs saying, to young America. The idea of toboganning was derived from this boyish pastime, and the oaken board has been succeeded by the fleet-winged toboggan, made of seasoned maple with handsomely upholstered seats. With the advent of improved ice vehicles the interest in these sports has increased, and instead of being confined to the vulgar boys who used to ride down hill belly-buster fashion, men and even the most fashionable women now partake of this pleasant and invigorating pastime. Also belly-bumbo, belly-guts, or gutter, belly-flounders, belly-flumps, and belly-plumper.
1888. Chicago Inter-Ocean. Barney has a sled, on which he hauls the fish in snowy weather. Barney had his sled out yesterday, belly-bumping on a little patch of ice and snow.
Belly-Button, subs. (American).—The navel.
Belly-Can (political).—Explained by quotation.
1889. Pall Mall Gazette, Mar. 28. Whatever ultimately comes of the Sunday Closing movement, it will at any rate leave behind it a curious addition to the English language. This is the word 'belly-can,' which is (according to the opponents of Sunday Closing) the plebeian counterpart of the more genteel 'small cask'—both things being, of course, contrivances for getting round the legal prohibition of Sunday drinking. Lexicographers may perhaps be glad to have the definitions of the two phrases as given yesterday afternoon by Mr. Cavendish Bentinck:—The 'belly-can' was a tin vessel not unlike a saddle in shape, which men and women, generally the latter—let hon. members note that—got filled with beer
