BELFRY, BELFREDUS, is used by military writers of the middle ages to denote a tower erected by besiegers to overlook the place besieged. Sentinels were placed on the belfry to watch the avenues and prevent surprise, or to give notice of fires by ringing a bell. The word belfry is compounded of the Teutonic bell, and freid, "peace." Belfry also denotes that part of a steple in which the bells are
hung; sometimes called by old writers campanile, elocaria, and tristepum.