bellyache
bellyache Lexical Profile
bellyache Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A pain in the stomach or abdomen (used especially in informal or everyday speech).
"The child stayed home from school after waking up with a bad bellyache."
An annoying, petty, or noisy complaint (informal).
"Nobody in the office wanted to listen to another bellyache about the new parking rules."
• verb
To complain noisily, persistently, or whinily about trivial matters (informal).
"The players began to bellyache about the referee's call before the first half was even over."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in the 16th century as a compound of 'belly' (from Old English 'belig', meaning bag or abdomen) and 'ache' (from Old English 'acan', meaning to suffer continuous pain). The informal verb sense meaning to complain whinily emerged in American English in the late 19th century.