SG Heritage Dictionary

Ventriloquism [\N] Webster's Dictionary 1828

1. VENTRIL'OQUISM ,

2. VENTRIL'OQUIST, noun One who speaks in such a manner that his voice appears to come from some distant place.

3. The ancient ventriloquists seems to speak from their bellies.

Ventriloquism [Noun] Webster's Dictionary 1913

The act, art, or practice of speaking in such a manner that the voice appears to come, not from the person speaking, but from some other source, as from the opposite side of the room, from the cellar, etc.