belfry Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a bell tower; usually stands alone unattached to a building
    campanile.
  2. noun a room (often at the top of a tower) where bells are hung

WordNet

Bel"fry noun
Etymology
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.
Definitions
  1. (Mil. Antiq.) A movable tower erected by besiegers for purposes of attack and defense.
  2. A bell tower, usually attached to a church or other building, but sometimes separate; a campanile.
  3. A room in a tower in which a bell is or may be hung; or a cupola or turret for the same purpose.
  4. (Naut.) The framing on which a bell is suspended.

Webster 1913