a town of Ireland, in the county of Antrim. It is seated at the bottom of Carrickfergus bay, and is the chief town and port in this part of Ireland, as well for beauty and the number of its inhabitants, as for its wealth, trade, and shipping. It has a considerable trade with Glasgow, and the inhabitants are mostly Scots, and of the presbyterian religion. W. Lon. 6. 15. N. Lat. 54. 38.

Belfry, Belfredus, is used by military writers of the middle age for a sort of tower erected by besiegers to overlook and command the place besiged. Belfry originally denoted a high tower, whereon centinels were placed to watch the avenues of a place, and prevent surprize from parties of the enemies, or to give notice of fires by ringing a bell. In the cities of Flanders, where there is no belfry on purpose, the tower of the chief church serves the same end. The word belfry is compounded of the Teutonic bell, and freid "peace," because the bells were hung for preserving the peace.

Belfry is also used for that part of a steeple wherein the bells are hung. This is sometimes called by middle-age writers campanile, clostaria, and triflegum.

Belfry is more particularly used for the timberwork which sustains the bells in a steeple, or that wooden structure to which the bells in church steeples are fastened.