belfries

Variant of belfry

belfry definition

bel·fry (bel′frē)

noun pl. belfries -·fries

  1. a movable tower used in ancient warfare for attacking walled positions
  2. a bell tower, esp. one that is part of a building, placed at the top
  3. the part of a tower or steeple that holds the bell or bells

Etymology: ME belfrei, altered by assoc. with belle ( bell) < berfrai < OFr berfroi < OHG bergfrid, lit., protector of peace < bergen, to protect (see bury) + frid, peace

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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