A system to continuously feed ammunition to automatic, rapid-fire weapons such as machine guns and gatling guns. In the modern context, bullets are held in chains of disintegrating metal links which can be connected to form belts of any length. These disposable links are discarded (along with the empty shell casings) upon firing.
Not to be confused with bandoliers, which are leather or canvas belts worn on the body and intended for carrying ammunition in individual loops. That said, ammunition belts can also be worn...