Belly on a knife

[Swedge]

What exactly is "belly" on a knife and how is it measured?

I sometimes see references to a knife having "lots of belly" and I am figuring it refers to the cutting edge curving but am not sure of the exact meaning and why one knife has lots of belly.

Is "belly" the amount by which the edge of the blade protrudes from a hypothetical straight line, and if so, between what two points does that line run?

 

[J.Mattson]

Belly is just the amount of sweep the blade has. For example most Tanto blades will have little or no belly and a re-curve knife like many offerings from Kershaw will have a whole lot of belly.

 

[gazz98]

From Jay Fisher. The more curve or upswept the blade is, the more "belly".