belfry

belfry
belfry c.1400, "siege tower" (late 13c. in Anglo-Latin with a sense "bell tower"), from O.N.Fr. berfroi "movable siege tower" (Mod.Fr. beffroi), from M.H.G. bercfrit "protecting shelter," lit. "that which watches over peace," from bergen "to protect" (see BURY (Cf. bury)) + frid "peace." Originally a wooden siege tower on wheels ("free" to move); it came to be used for chime towers (mid-15c.), which at first often were detached from church buildings (as the Campanile on Plaza San Marco in Venice). Spelling altered by dissimilation or by association with bell (n.).

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Belfry — Lage in Montana …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Belfry — • The upper part of the tower or steeple of a church, for the reception of the bells; or a detached tower containing bells, as the campanile of the Italians Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Belfry     Belfry …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Belfry — Belfry, MT U.S. Census Designated Place in Montana Population (2000): 219 Housing Units (2000): 119 Land area (2000): 1.902815 sq. miles (4.928268 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 1.902815 sq.… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Belfry, MT — U.S. Census Designated Place in Montana Population (2000): 219 Housing Units (2000): 119 Land area (2000): 1.902815 sq. miles (4.928268 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 1.902815 sq. miles… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Belfry — Bel fry, n. [OE. berfray movable tower used in sieges, OF. berfreit, berfroit, F. beffroi, fr. MHG. bervrit, bercvrit, G. bergfriede, fr. MHG. bergen to protect (G. bergen to conceal) + vride peace, protection, G. friede peace; in compounds often …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • belfry — [n] tower; part of tower bell tower, campanile, carillon, clocher, cupola, dome, head, minaret, spire, steeple, turret; concept 440 …   New thesaurus

  • belfry — ► NOUN (pl. belfries) ▪ the place in a bell tower or steeple in which bells are housed. ORIGIN Old French belfrei …   English terms dictionary

  • belfry — [bel′frē] n. pl. belfries [ME belfrei, altered by assoc. with belle ( BELL1) < berfrai < OFr berfroi < OHG bergfrid, lit., protector of peace < bergen, to protect (see BURY) + frid, peace] 1. a movable tower used in ancient warfare… …   English World dictionary

  • Belfry — The term belfry has a variety of uses:*Bell tower, an architectural term *Belfry, a type of medieval siege tower *Belfry, Montana, a town in the United States *The Belfry, an English golf club * Belfry , a play by Billy Roche, third part of The… …   Wikipedia

  • belfry — /bel free/, n., pl. belfries. 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 holds or encloses a bell. 4. Slang …   Universalium

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