belfry

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a bell tower or the part of a tower housing bells

   Bats roosted in the dusty old church belfry.

Simplified etymology

Belfry comes from Old French berfrei and originally denoted a movable wooden siege tower. Its elements probably meant “protect” and “peace” or “protection.” During the 15th century its medial r changed to l, probably through association with the unrelated word bell. A church belfry was initially a separate bell tower resembling a siege tower, and by the mid-16th century the word was being used for a room or storey where bells were hung.

From Old French berfrei ('movable siege tower'), from a Germanic compound *bergfrid, literally 'protecting shelter' (berg- 'to protect' + frid 'peace, shelter'). The form was altered by association with bell, and the meaning shifted to 'bell tower'.

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External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary