online medical dictionary | definition of navel

1. <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.

(01 Mar 1998)