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navel

1. (Science: anatomy) A mark or depression in the middle of the abdomen; the umbilicus. See Umbilicus.

2. The central part or point of anything; the middle. Within the navel of this hideous wood, Immured in cypress shades, a sorcerer dwells. (milton)

3. An eye on the under side of a carronade for securing it to a carriage. Navel gall, a bruise on the top of the chine of the back of a horse, behind the saddle. Navel point.

same as Nombril.

Origin: AS. Nafela, fr. Nafu nave; akin to D. Navel, G. Nabel, OHG. Nabolo, Icel. Nafli, Dan. Navle, Sw. Nafle, L. Umbilicus, Gr, Skr. Nbhila. 260. See Nave hub, and cf. Omphalic, Nombril, Umbilical.