bellows

Etymology 1

From Middle English belwes, plural of belu, belwe, a northern form of beli, from Old English bæliġ, northern form of bielġ, from Proto-Germanic *balgiz. Compare German Balg. See also belly. For the pronunciation /ˈbɛl.əs/, compare bodice, gallows.

noun

1. A device for delivering pressurized air in a controlled quantity to a controlled location. At its most simple terms a bellows is a container which is deformable in such a way as to alter its volume which has an outlet or outlets where one wishes to blow air.
   When wood fires were common, so were bellows for helping start them.
   That concertina was a wonder in its way. The handles that was on it first was wore out long ago, and he'd made new ones of braided rope yarn. And the bellows was patched in more places than a cranberry picker's overalls. 1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, chapter 8, in Mr. Pratt's Patients
2. Any flexible container or enclosure, as one used to cover a moving joint.
3. (informal or archaic) The lungs.
4. (photography) Flexible, light-tight enclosures connecting the lensboard and the camera back.
5. (figurative) That which fans the fire of hatred, jealousy, etc.

verb

1. (intransitive, transitive) To operate a bellows; to direct air at (something) using a bellows.
   So bellowsed, all the kindled soul of Hugh Became a still white hell of brooding ire, And through his veins regenerating fire Ran, driving out the lethargy of pain. 1915, John G. Neihardt, The Song of Hugh Glass, New York: Macmillan, Part 2, p. 34
   The smiths of the heavens are mending the weather; Their hammers are beating the fragments together. The cumulus mountains with nebulous gorges Are dazzled with flame of the wind-bellowsed forges; 1920, Arthur Guiterman, “Thunder-Storm”, in Ballads of Old New York, New York: Harper & Bros., page 49
   He almost let the cigar go out. ‘Good God, no. We’re both exiles, aren’t we?’ He bellowsed the end red again and continued, delicate as a musician, his scoring. 1966, Anthony Burgess, Tremor of Intent: An Eschatological Spy Novel, New York: Norton, Part 3, Chapter 6, p. 173
   This is a capricious devil, the furnace, though I say it myself, and it wants regular bellowsing. 1999, Ferdinand Mount, chapter 10, in Jem (and Sam), New York: Carroll & Graf, page 397
2. (intransitive, figurative) To expand and contract like a bellows.
   […] [the dogs] sprang up, and, with a grand spraying of the crisp snow as they fleetly clambered up the steep side, they were with us in an incredibly short time, with pink tongues protruding, sides bellowsing, and sterns wagging. 1904, A. R. Sennett, chapter 6, in Across the Great Saint Bernard: The Modes of Nature and the Manners of Man, London: Bemrose & Sons, page 389
   The pony still lay on his side and the wound in his throat bellowsed in and out. 1933, John Steinbeck, chapter 1, in The Red Pony, New York: Viking, published 1945, page 48
   A sick-looking dog sat in the middle of the road, head down, sides bellowsing, white foam dripping from its muzzle to the heat-shimmering pavement. 1978, Stephen King, chapter 25, in The Stand, New York: Random House, published 2012, page 196
   The old man laughed without making a sound. His chest bellowsed and he opened his mouth to display a horseshoe of gold molars. 1998, Loren D. Estleman, chapter 6, in Jitterbug, New York: Tom Doherty Associates, page 53
3. (transitive) To fold up like a bellows; to accordion.
   Without being tight […] the boot leg should fit close. The ankle should be supple as a stocking, and “bellowsed” to make sure of suppleness. 1916, Roger Pocock, chapter 6, in Horses, 2nd edition, London: John Murray, published 1917, pages 170–171
   […] the chairman of the gathered scholars […] [shushed] the black waiters preparing to feed us a hefty lunch behind the bellowsed dividing wall with the impatient yell, “You’re disturbing our meeting,” while we discussed their plight on our side of the wall. 1986, Will D. Campbell, chapter 9, in Forty Acres and a Goat, Atlanta: Peachtree, page 185
   [The bus] rolled swiftly down the hill and bellowsed five parked cars […] 1994, Timothy West, I’m Here I Think, Where Are You? Letters from a touring actor, London: Hodder & Stoughton, published 1995, page 139

Etymology 2

See bellow

noun

1. plural of bellow

verb

1. third-person singular simple present indicative of bellow