Paunch (pa̤nch or pänch; 277), n. [OF. panch, pance, F. panse, L. pantex, panticis.] 1. (Anat.) The belly and its contents; the abdomen; also, the first stomach, or rumen, of ruminants. See Rumen.
2. (Naut.) A paunch mat; — called also panch.
3. The thickened rim of a bell, struck by the clapper.
Paunch mat(Naut.), a thick mat made of strands of rope, used to prevent the yard or rigging from chafing.