| 释义 |
midriff|ˈmɪdrɪf|
Forms: 1 midhrif, midrif, 4–6 mydryf, 5 mydref(e, mydrif, myddereffe, 5–6 mydryff(e, 6 middryfe, midrefe, myddreffe, mydryfe, 6–7 midrif(f)e, 7 middrift, 6– midriff.
[OE. midhrif, f. midd mid a. + hrif belly (cf. riff n.4). Cf. OFris. midref.]
1. a. The diaphragm. to shake, tickle the midriff: said of what causes laughter.
c1000Sax. Leechd. II. 278 Hwilum onginneð of þam midhrife se is betweox þære wambe & þære lifre. c1400Lanfranc's Cirurg. 148 He [sc. the œsophagus] declineþ into þe ynnere partie til þat he peerse þoruȝ þe mydrif. c1440Promp. Parv. 337/1 Mydryf of a beste,.. diafragma. 1486Bk. St. Albans E viij, In the mydref that callid is the rondell also. 1533Elyot Cast. Helthe (1541) 49 The entrayles, which be underneth the myddreffe. c1550Lloyd Treas. Health A viij, A wounde in the braynes, hert, midrife,..or lyuer is deadly. 1596Shakes. 1 Hen. IV, iii. iii. 175 There's no roome for Faith, Truth, nor Honesty, in this bosome of thine: it is all fill'd vppe with Guttes and Midriffe. 1613M. Ridley Magn. Bodies 28 An Aequator, or middle fence, that divideth the whole body in the middest between the two Poles, like a Middrift. 1641Milton Reform. ii. Wks. 1851 III. 67 We would burst our midriffes rather then laugh. 1725Bradley Fam. Dict. s.v. Oesophagus, It..passes through the Midriff. 1831Lamb Elia Ser. ii. Newsp. 35 Yrs. Ago, That conceit..still tickles our midriff to remember. 1847Tennyson Princess i. 198 A sight to shake The midriff of despair with laughter.
Comb.1884Tennyson Becket iii. iii, Many midriff-shaken even to tears.
b. Fashion. (a) The midportion of the torso; (b) that part of a woman's garment which covers the midriff, esp. if cut separately from the upper bodice; (c) U.S. a woman's garment which leaves the midriff uncovered.
1941Fashion Digest Fall 74 Playsuit with wide-midriff and full-pleated skirt. 1948Harper's Bazaar Jan. 99 Inside the elasticized bodice is a lightly boned midriff, an uplift brassiere. 1953P. Binder Muffs & Morals i. 31 The midriff mode..came in just before the Second World War... It shocked nobody. 1964McCall's Sewing 12/1 Wide sashes, contrasting belts, set-in midriffs will give a lift to the waistline. 1966L. Halliday Fashion Makers ii. 41 A modern girl will cheerfully bare her midriff on the beach. 1970Daily Tel. 23 Feb. 13 A real Slim Jane? Then only you, one prays, will dare to wear the new bare-midriff styles. 1972E. Larsen Creative Dressmaker viii. 73 Cover the midriff with a piece of lace.
†2.
a. transf. A partition. (Cf. diaphragm.) Obs.
1660Boyle New Exp. Phys. Mech. Proem 12 In the midst of which frame, is..nail'd a board,..which may not improperly be call'd a Midriff. 1766Compl. Farmer s.v. Ventilator, A square box..in the middle of which is placed a broad partition, or midriff, made to move up and down.
†b. Applied as a term of contempt. Obs.
1600Dekker Shoomakers Holiday Wks. 1873 I. 13 Wife. Seuen yeares husband? Eyre. Peace Midriffe, peace, I know what I do, peace. Ibid. 19 [Eyre.] What Nan, what Madge-mamble-crust, come out you fatte Midriffe-swag-belly whores. |