DCHP-1 Online
belt Obs. 
1 n. Hist. a belt of shell beads used by eastern Indians, especially the Iroquois, as a mnemonic device for recording the terms of treaties etc. or as a mark of honor.
See also: belt of wampum
- 1765-75 (1933) By the Intarpretar I had the Speach Expland and the Intenshun of the Belts. . . . The Counsel with the Commander thought proper to Give Me ye Charge of thre Belts with the Speacheis and the traders of Lake Superer Ware Charged with the Others.
- 1850 The Iroquois council sent back the same deputies, with six belts, intimating their resolution, which was expressed in lofty and bitter terms.
2 n. a belt or waistband, often of worsted and of bright design, as the L'Assomption sash, characteristic of French Canada and long identified with the voyageurs and Métis.
See also: L'Assomption sash sash
- 1801 (1933) . . . one of them stole a Ceinture of Cadottes, [who] overtook them before noon, & threatened to shoot one of them if he did not tell which of them had stolen the Belt. . . .
- 1912 [The carter] . . . wears only a short, dark, heavy homespun jacket, with a red belt around it which hangs in tasselled ends at his side.
- 1765-75 (1933) By the Intarpretar I had the Speach Expland and the Intenshun of the Belts. . . . The Counsel with the Commander thought proper to Give Me ye Charge of thre Belts with the Speacheis and the traders of Lake Superer Ware Charged with the Others.