midriff Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the middle area of the human torso (usually in front)
    middle; midsection.
    • young American women believe that a bare midriff is fashionable
  2. noun (anatomy) a muscular partition separating the abdominal and thoracic cavities; functions in respiration
    diaphragm.

WordNet

Mid"riff noun
Etymology
AS. midhrif; midd mid, middle + hrif bowels, womb; akin to OFries. midref midriff, rif, ref, belly, OHG. href body, and to L. corpus body. See Corpse.
Definitions
  1. (Anat.) See Diaphragm, n., 2.
    Smote him into the midriff with a stone. Milton.

Webster 1913