belfry — a bell tower, especially one that is part of a church
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a bell tower, especially one that is part of a church
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈbelfri/
Example Sentences
- The wedding bells rang loudly from the ancient belfry.
- He claimed he had bats in his belfry after forgetting his own name.
- The Gothic cathedral's belfry dominated the city skyline.
belfry
NOUN[/ˈbelfri/]
a bell tower, especially one that is part of a church
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Medieval French 'berfrei' meaning 'siege tower' - a movable wooden tower used in warfare. Interestingly, despite the modern spelling, it has no etymological connection to 'bell', though it came to mean a bell tower over time.
Breakdown
ber- (protection/shelter) + frei (peace/safety) - the components relate to its original meaning as a defensive structure
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The wedding bells rang loudly from the ancient belfry.”
“He claimed he had bats in his belfry after forgetting his own name.”
“The Gothic cathedral's belfry dominated the city skyline.”
“Tourists climbed 200 steps to reach the top of the belfry.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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