fish-bellied

[ fish-bel-eed ]

adjective

, Building Trades, Machinery.

1. (of a beam or rail) having a convex underside.

Word History and Origins

Origin of fish-bellied¹

First recorded in 1825–35

Example Sentences

The line was at first laid with fish-bellied rails weighing thirty-five pounds to the yard, calculated only for horse-traffic, or, at most, for engines like the “Rocket,” of very light weight. 

From Project Gutenberg

The malleable rails were of the kind called “fish-bellied,” and weighed 28 lbs. to the yard, being 2¼ inches broad at the top, with the upper flange ¾ inch thick. 

From Project Gutenberg