BELFRY

belfry

(noun) a room (often at the top of a tower) where bells are hung

campanile, belfry

(noun) a bell tower; usually stands alone unattached to a building

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

belfry (plural belfries)

(obsolete) A movable tower used in sieges.

(dialectal) A shed.

(obsolete) An alarm-tower; a watchtower containing an alarm-bell.

(architecture) A tower or steeple specifically for containing bells, especially as part of a church.

(architecture) A part of a large tower or steeple, specifically for containing bells.

• Episode 12, The Cyclops

Source: Wiktionary

Bel"fry, n. Etym: [OE. berfray movable tower used in sieges, OF. berfreit, berfroit, F. beffroi, fr. MHG. bervrit, bercvrit, G. bergfriede, fr. MHG. bergen to protect (G. bergen to conceal) + vride peace, protection, G. friede peace; in compounds often taken in the sense of security, or place of security; orig. therefore a place affording security. G. friede is akin to E. free. See Burg, and Free.]

1. (Mil. Antiq.)

Definition: A movable tower erected by besiegers for purposes of attack and defense.

2. A bell tower, usually attached to a church or other building, but sometimes separate; a campanile.

3. A room in a tower in which a bell is or may be hung; or a cupola or turret for the same purpose.

4. (Naut.)

Definition: The framing on which a bell is suspended.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition