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swirlie · F
A navel is what every snipped umbilical cord is called as it forms it's eventual shape on the surface of the stomach.
A belly button however, is a very specific style of navel that the person ended up with. The word "button" in bellybutton, refers to the style of navel that is shaped like a shirt button, which is a slightly protruding button shape. The name "bellybutton" originally came from the shape of perfectly round, colored buttons that were typically used on a woman's blouse or suit vest, which had two fine holes in the middle for thread to be fastened to.
In the truest sense of the name, the "bellybutton" reference was originally used to describe a navel that was also a perfectly round ball of skin, which resembled the round ball-buttons on women's suit vests or corsets, which then looped themselves behind a loop of yarn or thread to keep the garment closed.
If a person's navel does not look like a round ball of skin, then they do not have a 'bellybutton'. They have a navel, but if their navel was formed by the protruding tubular walls of their umbilical stalk, it may be referred to as a 'tube-outie', but technically speaking, it does not qualify to be called a "belly button".
The reason for this, is because the shape of a tube will not hold the looped end of the other side of the garment in place, as it will simply slip off from lack of edging. A round ball on the other hand, will allow the looped side to stay in place BEHIND the ball-button.
A belly button however, is a very specific style of navel that the person ended up with. The word "button" in bellybutton, refers to the style of navel that is shaped like a shirt button, which is a slightly protruding button shape. The name "bellybutton" originally came from the shape of perfectly round, colored buttons that were typically used on a woman's blouse or suit vest, which had two fine holes in the middle for thread to be fastened to.
In the truest sense of the name, the "bellybutton" reference was originally used to describe a navel that was also a perfectly round ball of skin, which resembled the round ball-buttons on women's suit vests or corsets, which then looped themselves behind a loop of yarn or thread to keep the garment closed.
If a person's navel does not look like a round ball of skin, then they do not have a 'bellybutton'. They have a navel, but if their navel was formed by the protruding tubular walls of their umbilical stalk, it may be referred to as a 'tube-outie', but technically speaking, it does not qualify to be called a "belly button".
The reason for this, is because the shape of a tube will not hold the looped end of the other side of the garment in place, as it will simply slip off from lack of edging. A round ball on the other hand, will allow the looped side to stay in place BEHIND the ball-button.