Английский Этимологический словарь - ventriloquy

- 1584, from L.L. ventriloquus, from L. venter (gen. ventris) "belly" + loqui "speak." Patterned on Gk. engastrimythos, lit. "speaking in the belly," which was not originally an entertainer's trick but rather a sign of demonic possession. Ventriloquist is from 1656; ventriloquism is from 1797.