belwen

Middle English

Alternative forms

• belewi, below

Etymology

From Old English bylgian, belgan (“to become angry”). Related to bælg (“leather bag”) and bellan (“to roar”). Compare modern English billow.

Verb

belwen

1. to cry out in anger, rage, roar (of animals)
2. to bellow, roar (of the wind, the sea)

Related terms

• belwes
• bely

Descendants

• English: bellow

References

• “belwen, v.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.