n. [ L. abdomen (a word of uncertain etymol.): cf. F. abdomen. ] 1. (Anat.) The belly, or that part of the body between the thorax and the pelvis. Also, the cavity of the belly, which is lined by the peritoneum, and contains the stomach, bowels, and other viscera. In man, often restricted to the part between the diaphragm and the commencement of the pelvis, the remainder being called the pelvic cavity. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) The posterior section of the body, behind the thorax, in insects, crustaceans, and other Arthropoda. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; E. pl. Abdominals, L. pl. Abdominales. A fish of the group Abdominales. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. abdominal. ] 1. Of or pertaining to the abdomen; ventral; as, the abdominal regions, muscles, cavity. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Zool.) Having abdominal fins; belonging to the Abdominales; as, abdominal fishes. [ 1913 Webster ]

Abdominal ring (Anat.), a fancied ringlike opening on each side of the abdomen, external and superior to the pubes; -- called also inguinal ring. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL., masc. pl. ] (Zool.) A group including the greater part of fresh-water fishes, and many marine ones, having the ventral fins under the abdomen behind the pectorals. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL., neut. pl. ] (Zool.) A group of cirripeds having abdominal appendages. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. abdomen + Gr. skopei^n to examine. ] (Med.) Examination of the abdomen by means of a laparoscope to detect abdominal diseases. [ 1913 Webster + AS ]

a. Relating to the abdomen and the thorax, or chest. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Having a protuberant belly; pot-bellied. [ 1913 Webster ]

Gorgonius sits, abdominous and wan,
Like a fat squab upon a Chinese fan. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. 1 distension of the stomach area due to overweight.
Syn. -- paunchiness [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ Pref. post- + abdomen. ] (Zool.) That part of a crustacean behind the cephalothorax; -- more commonly called abdomen. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. "ra`bdos a rod + -oid + -al.] (Anat.) See Sagittal. [Written also rhabdoidal.] [1913 Webster]

n. [ Gr. "ra`bdos rod, stick + -logy: cf. F. rabdologie.] The method or art of performing arithmetical operations by means of Napier's bones. See Napier's bones. [Written also rhabdology.] [1913 Webster]

n. [ Gr. "ra`bdos rod + -mancy.] Divination by means of rods or wands. [Written also rhabdomancy.] Sir T. Browne. [1913 Webster]

‖n. pl. [ NL., fr. Gr. "ra`bdos a rod + koi^los hollow.] (Zool.) A suborder of Turbellaria including those that have a simple cylindrical, or saclike, stomach, without an intestine. [1913 Webster]

a. (Zool.) Of or pertaining to the Rhabdocoela. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. See Sagittal. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. "ra`bdos a rod + -lith.] A minute calcareous rodlike structure found both at the surface and the bottom of the ocean; -- supposed by some to be a calcareous alga. [1913 Webster]

n. Same as Rabdology. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. "ra`bdwma a bundle of rods, fr. "ra`bdos a rod. ] (Zool.) One of numerous minute rodlike structures formed of two or more cells situated behind the retinulae in the compound eyes of insects, etc. See Illust. under Ommatidium. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Same as Rabdomancy. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Rhabdom + -mere. ] (Zool.) One of the several parts composing a rhabdom. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL., fr. Gr. "ra`bdos a rod + fe`rein to bear.] (Zool.) An extinct division of Hydrozoa which includes the graptolities. [1913 Webster]

‖n. [ NL., fr. Gr. "ra`bdos a rod + &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_; the side.] (Zool.) A genus of marine Bryozoa in which the tubular cells have a centralchitinous axis and the tentacles are borne on a bilobed lophophore. It is the type of the order Pterobranchia, or Podostomata [1913 Webster]

n. [ Gr. "ra`bdos a rod + E. sphere.] A minute sphere composed of rhabdoliths. [1913 Webster]