Bēl'fry, n.
n. [O. Fr. belefroi, berfroit, berfreit, bere-freit, befreit, beffroit, now beffroi, It. battifredo (alluding to battere, beat), L. Lat. belfredus, balfredus, berfredus, verfredus, from M. H. Ger. berrvrit, bercvrit, L. Ger. borchvrede, berchvrede, Sw. barfrid, N. H. Ger. bergfriede, burgfriede, from Ger. berg, mountain, or burg, castle, citadel, and friede, peace, which in compound words is often taken in the sense of security, place of security; N. H. Ger. friede is M. H. Ger. vride, O. H. Ger. fridu, A-S. fridhu, O. S. fritho, frithu, Icel. fridhr.]
Sense 1. Among military writers of the middle ages, a movable tower, often several stories high, erected by besiegers for purposes of attack and defense.
Sense 2. A bell-tower, usually attached to a church or other building, but sometimes separate; a campanile.
Sense 3. A room in a tower in which a bell is or may be hung; or a cupola or turret for the same purpose.
Sense 4. The framing on which a bell is suspended. Eng. Cyc.