noun
paunch
pawnch
Paunch (noun) means a protruding belly, especially a large one on a man. Example: “Years of beer and takeaways had left him with quite a paunch.”
noun
1
A protruding belly, especially a large one on a man.
"Years of beer and takeaways had left him with quite a paunch."
"He patted his paunch and laughed about the extra Christmas dinner."
2
The first stomach chamber of a cow or other cud-chewing animal (the rumen).
"The paunch breaks down tough plant fibre before the rest of digestion begins."
How to use paunch
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA big round belly, or (in animals) the first stomach compartment.
Common pairings
a beer paunch
a growing paunch
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Word forms
- Plural
- paunches
- Third person singular
- paunches
- Past tense
- paunched
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Years of beer and takeaways had left him with quite a _____.
Etymology
From Old French pance, going back to Latin pantex ("belly") — the same root that gives us "pancreas."
Synonyms
View more →
bay window
beer baby
beer belly
beer gut
beer muscles
Buddha belly
corporation
German goitre
gorbelly
Milwaukee goiter
Molson muscle
pooch
Related words
Rhymes for paunch
See all rhymes for paunch →Frequently asked questions
What does “paunch” mean?
The word “paunch” means a protruding belly, especially a large one on a man. In plain terms, a big round belly, or (in animals) the first stomach compartment.
How do you pronounce “paunch”?
“Paunch” is pronounced pawnch (/pɔːnt͡ʃ/ in IPA).
How do you use “paunch” in a sentence?
Here is “paunch” used in a sentence: “Years of beer and takeaways had left him with quite a paunch.”
What is another word for “paunch”?
Words with a similar meaning to “paunch” include bay window, beer baby, beer belly, beer gut, beer muscles and Buddha belly.
What part of speech is “paunch”?
“Paunch” is a noun.
Where does the word “paunch” come from?
The word “paunch” comes from Latin. From Old French pance, going back to Latin pantex ("belly") — the same root that gives us "pancreas.".
How many meanings does “paunch” have?
“Paunch” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a protruding belly, especially a large one on a man.
