navel

[ ney-vuhl ]

noun

1. umbilicus ( def 1 ).
2. the central point or middle of any thing or place.
3. Heraldry. nombril.

navel

/ ˈneɪvəl /

noun

1. the scar in the centre of the abdomen, usually forming a slight depression, where the umbilical cord was attached Technical nameumbilicus umbilical
2. a central part, location, or point; middle
3. short for navel orange

Word History and Origins

Origin of navel¹

before 900; Middle English; Old English nafela; cognate with Dutch navel, German Nabel, Old Norse nafli; akin to Sanskrit nābhīla, Latin umbilīcus, Greek omphalós

Word History and Origins

Origin of navel¹

Old English nafela; related to Old Frisian navla, Old High German nabulo (German Nabel ), Latin umbilīcus

Example Sentences

A thick line marks a healed cut from just under the man’s neck all the way down to his navel.

From BBC

“Navel orangeworm could be a nightmare … but it could also become less of a problem because all the things that eat it benefit more from the heat than the navel orangeworm,” said Haviland.

From Los Angeles Times

The miraculous orange was renamed the Washington navel orange.

From Los Angeles Times

It turns out though that the answer is far easier than the half-baked solutions that seem to make it into the navel gazing podcasts online or the “think pieces” we see in some papers.

From Salon

He said where some landowners have abandoned their trees, it’s a problem for neighboring growers because the untended orchards can harbor pests — such as navel orangeworm — that can spread to nearby orchards.

From Los Angeles Times