ENGLISH DICTIONARY

Belfry

Definition, Meaning & Examples

Pronunciation /ˈbɛlfɹi/ · Part of speech noun

Quick meaning: Belfry is a noun meaning (architecture) A tower or steeple typically containing bells, especially as part of a church.

Meaning

(architecture) A tower or steeple typically containing bells, especially as part of a church.

More Meanings

  1. (architecture) A part of a large tower or steeple, specifically for containing bells.
  2. (dialectal) A shed.
  3. (obsolete) A movable tower used in sieges.
  4. (obsolete) An alarm-tower; a watchtower possibly containing an alarm-bell.

Example Sentences

From the belfries far and near the funereal deathbell tolled unceasingly while all around the gloomy precincts rolled the ominous warning of a hundred muffled drums punctuated by the hollow booming of pieces of ordnance.
“You know, this house does have a belfry filled with local bats. Maybe Laszlo went up there.” “Oh, so like my darling perverted husband, to sniff out the local bordello immediately upon arrival. [chuckles] Could you take me to the belfry?”

Word Forms

Synonyms for belfry

Depending on context, synonyms include campanile.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include campanile, bellhouse, steeplehouse, spire, rood-steeple, clocktower.

Related Dictionary Tools

Sources & Attribution

FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0

Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.