midriff

<font size="-1" face="arial, helvetica"> <p> <strong> <font color="#000066">Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for August 7, 2020 is:</font> </strong> </p> <p> <strong>midriff</strong> &#149; \MID-riff\&nbsp; &#149; <em>noun</em><br /> <p><strong>1 :</strong> the mid-region of the human torso <strong>:</strong> <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/midsection">midsection</a></p> <p><strong>2 a :</strong> a section of a garment that covers the midriff</p> <p><strong>b :</strong> a garment that exposes the midriff</p> <p><strong>3 :</strong> a body partition of muscle and connective tissue; <em>specifically</em> <strong>:</strong> the partition separating the chest and abdominal cavities in mammals <strong>:</strong> <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diaphragm">diaphragm</a></p> </p> <p> <strong>Examples:</strong><br /> <p>Even the store's winter line of clothing includes a number of <em>midriff</em>-baring tops, albeit paired with oversized cardigans or flannel shirts.</p> <p>"I love printed <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shift#h2">shift</a> dresses that just float over the <em>midriff</em> or little leather skirts to bring out your edgier side." — <a href="https://digitaledition.chicagotribune.com/tribune/article_popover.aspx?guid=23589801-5132-4080-80f9-e6ce1fb4007f">Aramide Esubi, <em>The Chicago Tribune</em>, 22 Mar. 2020</a></p> </p> <p> <strong>Did you know?</strong><br /> <p><em>Midriff</em> is now most commonly encountered in the mid-torso or clothing-related senses. These senses are relatively young, having appeared, respectively, in the early 19th and mid-20th centuries. For most of its history, however, <em>midriff</em> has been used to refer to the <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diaphragm">diaphragm</a> (a large flat muscle separating the lungs from the stomach area). The diaphragm sense has been with us for more than 1,000 years, with the earliest known uses being f