Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun automotive The imaginary line marking the upper end of the lower body of an automobile, running just below the bottoms of the windows
  • noun A beltway: a circular expressway around a city

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

belt +‎ line

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Examples

  • Bring them visually down to size with a "beltline" - a horizontal division in the wall space that comes from using moulding, wainscoting or tile in the middle.

    The Seattle Times 2009

  • As the result of a discussion last evening in regard to the time required to walk around the beltline, that is, starting at a given point in Lewiston and walking down Main Street to Auburn, thence to New Auburn returning to the starting point via Cedar and Lisbon streets, a trial walk was taken.

    Sunjournal - Connecting you with your Community 2009

  • The "beltline" remains one of the busiest streets in the city, and traffic counts are expected to grow by about 50 percent over the next 20 years, according to MnDOT.

    Postbulletin.com Local News 2009

  • Apart from the beltline which is a bit high for my taste (though that is something all cars seem to suffer from lately), they managed to modernize the design pretty well.

    Autoblog Green 2009

  • The problem is especially prevalent in SUVs, which have a high beltline below the windows, which can hide even larger children.

    Government delays implementing backup camera requirement 2011

  • In order to do that, they extended the canvas-top mechanism below the beltline, thus creating the pocket for the pond to form.

    A Genuine Ragtop Road Monster, Leaks and All Dan Neil 2011

  • Try Sunless Tanning Solutions and get the rest of your body to match that orange Cheetos glow below your beltline.

    Think Progress » Rubio raises Terri Schiavo case in an attack on Crist. 2010

  • In order to do that, they extended the canvas-top mechanism below the beltline, thus creating a pocket for water to collect, writes Mr. Neil.

    Ragtop Road Monster 2011

  • There 's the very odd down-jog in the side windows at the "C" pillar — Honda dubs this element a "lightning-bolt beltline" by way of selling its awesomeness.

    A Van Parents Will Love Dan Neil 2010

  • If the article in praise of Weinberger is the beltline consensus, God help us!

    Matthew Yglesias » Endgame 2010

Comments

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  • "This refers to the intersection of the upper body structure, or greenhouse, and the lower body. In the case of the 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado, in which there really was no rupture of form between the two elements, the beltline might be considered to be the bottom edge of the side windows."

    from "Tumble What? The strange and baffling world of car design-speak explained." Automobile, August 2007: 125.

    August 25, 2007