Midriff

Midriff

Noun · /ˈmɪd.rɪf/

Definition

The front part of the body between the chest and the waist; the region of the diaphragm; also used for clothing or fashion that exposes this area of the body (a midriff top).

Origin

From Old English midhrifjournaling, formed from mid (middle) + hrif (belly, abdomen, womb). The hrif element is related to Old High German href (body, womb) and Gothic hraiwa (corpse, body). The compound thus literally means the middle of the belly or mid-belly. The anatomical sense has been in English since the Old English period. The fashion sense — a garment that exposes the midriff — developed in the 20th century.