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paunch

1. (Science: anatomy) The belly and its contents; the abdomen; also, the first stomach, or rumen, of ruminants. See Rumen.

2. A paunch mat; called also panch.

3. The thickened rim of a bell, struck by the clapper. Paunch mat, a thick mat made of strands of rope, used to prevent the yard or rigging from chafing.

Origin: OF. Panch, pance, F. Panse, L. Pantex, panticis.