1. † a. The lower part of a woman’s dress. Obs.
1621. Brathwait, Times Cvrtaine Drawne, D 4. About the May pole while she tripps, Downe fell her vnder-bodie from her hipps. Ibid. (1621), Nat. Embassie, 204.
b. U.S. A corset-cover; underwaist.
2. The underside of an animal’s body.
1879. J. Burroughs, Locusts & W. Honey, 128. A dog … will manœuvre round the porcupine till he … fastens on his quill-less underbody.
3. a. Naut. The part of a ship’s hull which is below the water-line.
1895. Westm. Gaz., 6 Sept., 7/2. A coat of black composition … has been given to the underbody of Valkyrie.
b. The under portion of the body of a vehicle.
1904. Daily Chron., 6 Sept., 6/7. The wagons … were lifted bodily at the end of a trace of chains, hooked to the underbody of the vehicle.
