Belfry, n. [OE. berfray movable tower used in sieges, OF. berfreit, berfroit, F. beffroi, fr. MHG. bervrit, bercvrit, G. bergfriede, fr. MHG. bergen to protect (G. bergen to conceal) + vride peace, protection, G. friede peace; in compounds often taken in the sense of security, or place of security; orig. therefore a place affording security. G. friede is akin to E. free. See Burg, and Free.].

A movable tower erected by besiegers for purposes of attack and defense. [1913 Webster]
A bell tower, usually attached to a church or other building, but sometimes separate; a campanile. [1913 Webster]
A room in a tower in which a bell is or may be hung; or a cupola or turret for the same purpose. [1913 Webster]
The framing on which a bell is suspended. [1913 Webster]

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OXFORD DICTIONARY

Belfry, n. (pl. -ies)
1 a bell tower or steeple housing bells, esp. forming part of a church.
2 a space for hanging bells in a church tower.

Idiom

bats in the belfry see BAT(2).

Etymology

ME f. OF berfrei f. Frank.: altered by assoc. with bell

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THESAURUS

Belfry

antenna tower, barbican, bean, bell tower, campanile, carillon, colossus, column, conk, cupola, derrick, dome, fire tower, head, headpiece, lantern, lighthouse, martello, martello tower, mast, minaret, monument, noddle, noggin, noodle, obelisk, observation tower, pagoda, pilaster, pillar, pinnacle, pole, poll, pylon, pyramid, shaft, skyscraper, spire, standpipe, steeple, stupa, television mast, tope, tour, tower, turret, water tower, windmill tower

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ROGET THESAURUS

Belfry

Temple

N temple, place of worship, house of God, house of prayer, temple, cathedral, minster, church, kirk, chapel, meetinghouse, bethel, tabernacle, conventicle, basilica, fane, holy place, chantry, oratory, synagogue, mosque, marabout, pantheon, pagoda, joss house, dogobah, tope, kiosk, kiack, masjid, parsonage, rectory, vicarage, manse, deanery, glebe, Vatican, bishop's palace, Lambeth, altar, shrine, sanctuary, Holy of Holies, sanctum sanctorum, sacristy, sacrarium, communion table, holy table, Lord's table, table of the Lord, pyx, baptistery, font, piscina, stoup, aumbry, sedile, reredos, rood loft, rood screen, chancel, quire, choir, nave, aisle, transept, vestry, crypt, golgotha, calvary, Easter sepulcher, stall, pew, pulpit, ambo, lectern, reading desk, confessional, prothesis, credence, baldachin, baldacchino, apse, belfry, chapter house, presbytery, anxious-bench, anxious-seat, diaconicum, jube, mourner's bench, mourner's seat, cloisters, churchyard, monastery, priory, abbey, friary, convent, nunnery, cloister, claustral, cloistered, monastic, monasterial, conventual, ne vile fano, there's nothing ill can dwell in such a temple.

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