yel·low-bel·lied

(yĕl′ō-bĕl′ēd)

adj.

1. Having a belly that is yellow or yellowish. Used of certain birds, for example.

2. Slang Cowardly.

yel′low-bel′ly n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

yellow-belly

n, pl -lies

1. a slang word for coward

2. (Animals) Austral another name for callop

ˈyellow-ˌbellied adj

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

yellow-belly

noun

Slang. An ignoble, uncourageous person:

coward, craven, dastard, funk, poltroon.

Slang: chicken.

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References in periodicals archive

Young run amok due to loss of discipline I SYMPATHISE with Barbara Dunn and HS of Solihull over their concern about the discipline and respect of today's young, but I am afraid the worst is yet to come because we have no corporal punishment, soft judges, cosy prisons and yellow-belly governments who give in to those with the biggest mouth.

Young run amok due to loss of discipline; Letters & Emails

So while we're doing gags about yellow-belly custards, Sam, how's about this one: "What did you call the six guys who pulled out of a UEFA Cup game in Tel Aviv a month after 9/11 because they were a lickle bit scared of getting blown up?

BRIAN READE: Yellow the Blues colour

'Eat lead, yellow-belly!' rejoined O'Bannion, spraying the survivors from the hip with his machine gun.

UJJ and Braddock VC were no match for Bill the real thing

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