Paunch

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /pɔːnt͡ʃ/

Definitions

1. A protruding belly or abdomen, typically caused by excess fat or poor posture
2. A swollen abdomen characterized by excess fat accumulation, often associated with overeating or a lack of physical activity
3. A distended stomach, often resulting from an accumulation of fat, that can indicate dietary habits or lifestyle choices

Etymology: The most striking part of this word's story is that its original sense was the belly of an animal rather than a human's. Its ancestor was Latin "pantex", which referred to the intestines or the belly, and it passed into Middle English as "paunche" by way of Old French forms such as "pance" (modern French "panse"). For centuries the word kept that anatomical flavour, and it could be used for the stomach of livestock as much as for a person. The modern sense of a swollen, fleshy belly took shape gradually, and the word picked up a comic edge along the way. A later and more pointed episode involved French politics: a caricature of the French minister Felix Barthe showed him with a large belly, and the image helped fix "paunch" in the minds of readers as a sign of a well-fed, self-satisfied man.

Synonyms: belly, stomach, abdomen, gut, tummy

Antonyms: waist, flat stomach, slimness, thinness, fit