Etymology From Middle English stomak, from Old French estomac, from Latin stomachus, from Ancient Greek στόμαχος (stómakhos), from στόμα (stóma, “mouth”). Partially displaced native Old English maga, whence Modern English maw.
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An organ in animals that stores food in the process of digestion.
Our stomachs and livers have an enzyme known as alcohol dehydrogenase that breaks down ethanol to make it less toxic for our bodies, said Atlanta gastroenterologist Dr. Preston Stewart.2012 September 26, Jacque Wilson, “Experts: Alcohol enemas ‘extremely dangerous’”, in CNN:
A new study suggests people taking popular injected medications for weight loss, including Wegovy, Ozempic, Saxenda and Victoza, may be at higher risk for serious digestive problems such as stomach paralysis, pancreatitis, and bowel obstructions, compared with those taking other types of weight loss medications.2023 October 5, Brenda Goodman, “Researchers link popular weight loss drugs to serious digestive problems for ‘hundreds of thousands’ worldwide”, in CNN:
Sterne was his looke, and full of stomacke vaine, / His portaunce terrible, and stature tall […]1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto VII”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC:
He was a man / Of an unbounded stomach, ever ranking / Himself with princes;c. 1606–1607 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act HENRY 8, scene iv], page ii, line 34:
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This sort of crying[…] proceeding from pride, obstinacy, and stomach, the will, where the fault lies, must be bent.1693, [John Locke], “§108”, in Some Thoughts Concerning Education, London: […] A[wnsham] and J[ohn] Churchill, […], →OCLC:
You come not home because you have no stomach. / You have no stomach, having broke your fast.c. 1594 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Comedie of Errors”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii], line 50:
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HOST. How say you sir, doo you please to sit downe? EUMENIDES. Hostes I thanke you, I haue no great stomack.c. 1590 (date written), G[eorge] P[eele], The Old Wiues Tale. […], London: […] Iohn Danter, for Raph Hancocke, and Iohn Hardie, […], published 1595, →OCLC, [lines 920-922]:
If after seven hours' tarrying he shall have no stomach, let him defer his meal, or eat very little at his ordinary time of repast.1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], chapter II, in The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition ii, section 1, member 2:
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Figuratively A desire, an appetite (for something abstract).
I have no stomach for a fight today.
That he which hath no ſtomack to this fight, / Let him depart, his Paſport ſhall be made,1599 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Life of Henry the Fift”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene iii], page 86, column 2:
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At the moment, I don’t know what stomach there would be for stories about societies falling apart, so I’m not working away on one of those.2020 May 4, Lauren Morris, quoting Charlie Brooker, “Charlie Brooker gives Black Mirror season 6 update”, in Radio Times:
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The part of a garment that covers a person's stomach.
[…] Mr. Sedley looking grand, with a crush opera-hat on one side of his head and his hand in the stomach of a voluminous white waistcoat.1847 January – 1848 July, William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity Fair […], London: Bradbury and Evans […], published 1848, →OCLC:
Etymology From Middle English stomak, from Old French estomac, from Latin stomachus, from Ancient Greek στόμαχος (stómakhos), from στόμα (stóma, “mouth”). Partially displaced native Old English maga, whence Modern English maw.
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To tolerate (something), emotionally, physically, or mentally; to stand or handle something.
I really can’t stomach jobs involving that much paperwork, but some people seem to tolerate them.
Let a man, though never so justly, oppose himself unto them that are disordered in their ways; and what one amongst them commonly doth not stomach at such contradiction, storm at reproof, and hate such as would reform them?[1594], Richard Hooker, edited by J[ohn] S[penser], Of the Lawes of Ecclesiastical Politie, […], London: […] Iohn Windet, […], →OCLC, (please specify the page):
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Obsolete To resent; to remember with anger; to dislike.
O, my good lord, / Believe not all; or, if you must believe, / Stomach not all.c. 1606–1607 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Anthonie and Cleopatra”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iv], line 12:
The Lion began at first to shew his Teeth, and to Stomach the Affront.1692, Roger L’Estrange, “ (please specify the fable number.) (please specify the name of the fable.)”, in Fables, of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists: […], London: […] R[ichard] Sare, […], →OCLC:
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The Parliament sit in that body […] to be his counsellors and dictators, though he stomach it.1649, J[ohn] Milton, ΕΙΚΟΝΟΚΛΆΣΤΗΣ [Eikonoklástēs] […], London: […] Matthew Simmons, […], →OCLC:
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Obsolete To turn the stomach of; to sicken or repel.