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Synonyms
Examples of navel in a Sentence
Word History
Middle English, going back to Old English nafola, nafela, going back to Germanic *naƀ-alan- (whence also Old Frisian naula "navel," Middle Dutch navel, navele, Old High German nabalo, Old Icelandic nafli), masculine n-stem derivative from *naƀō "hub of a wheel, nave entry 1"; pre-Germanic *h3nobh-Vlo- with o-grade ablaut and an -l- formative is paralleled by zero-grade and an -l- formative in Latin umbilīcus "navel, central point" (see umbilicus), Old Irish imliu, imbliu "navel, boss of a shield, central point" (< *amb-el-on- < *h3n̥bh-el-on-), Greek omphalós "navel, central point" (see omphalos)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing navel
Dictionary Entries Near navel
Cite this Entry
“Navel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/navel. Accessed 16 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
navel
nounMedical Definition
navel
nouncalled also umbilicus
More from Merriam-Webster on navel
Nglish: Translation of navel for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of navel for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about navel
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