bower
1
[ bou-er ]
/ ˈbaʊ ər /
noun
a leafy shelter or recess; arbor.
a rustic dwelling; cottage.
a lady's boudoir in a medieval castle.
verb (used with object)
to enclose in or as in a bower; embower.
Origin of bower
1
before 900; Middle English
bour, Old English
būr chamber; cognate with Old Norse
būr pantry, German
Bauer birdcage; akin to
neighbor
OTHER WORDS FROM bower
bow·er·like, adjectiveWords nearby bower
bowell,
bowen,
bowen's disease,
bowen's reaction series,
bowenite,
bower,
bowerbird,
bowers,
bowery,
bowfin,
bowgrace
Definition for bower (2 of 6)
Also called
bower anchor.
Definition for bower (3 of 6)
bower
3
[ bou-er ]
/ ˈbaʊ ər /
noun
a person or thing that bows or bends.
Definition for bower (4 of 6)
bower
4
[ boh-er ]
/ ˈboʊ ər /
noun Music.
a musician, as a violinist, who performs with a bow on a stringed instrument.
Definition for bower (5 of 6)
bow
2
[ boh ]
/ boʊ /
noun
adjective
curved outward at the center; bent: bow legs.
verb (used with or without object)
Origin of bow
2
before 1000; Middle English
bowe (noun), Old English
boga; cognate with Dutch
boog, German
Bogen, Old Norse
bogi; akin to
bow1
OTHER WORDS FROM bow
bowed·ness, noun bow·less, adjective bow·like, adjectiveWORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH bow
bode bowedDefinition for bower (6 of 6)
bow
3
[ bou ]
/ baʊ /
noun
Nautical, Aeronautics.
- the forward end of a vessel or airship.
- either side of this forward end, especially with reference to the direction of a distant object: a mooring two points off the port bow.
bows, Nautical.
the exterior of the forward end of a vessel, especially one in which the hull slopes back on both sides of the stem.
the foremost oar in rowing a boat.
adjective
of or relating to the bow of a ship.
Origin of bow
3Example sentences from the Web for bower
British Dictionary definitions for bower (1 of 7)
bower
1
/ (ˈbaʊə) /
noun
a shady leafy shelter or recess, as in a wood or garden; arbour
literary
a lady's bedroom or apartments, esp in a medieval castle; boudoir
literary
a country cottage, esp one regarded as charming or picturesque
Derived forms of bower
bowery, adjectiveWord Origin for bower
Old English
būr dwelling; related to Old Norse
būr pantry, Old High German
būr dwelling
British Dictionary definitions for bower (2 of 7)
bower
2
/ (ˈbaʊə) /
noun
nautical
a vessel's bow anchor
Word Origin for bower
C18: from
bow ³ +
-er
1
British Dictionary definitions for bower (3 of 7)
bower
3
/ (ˈbaʊə) /
noun
a jack in euchre and similar card games
Word Origin for bower
C19: from German
Bauer peasant, jack (in cards)
British Dictionary definitions for bower (4 of 7)
bow
1
/ (baʊ) /
verb
noun
a lowering or inclination of the head or body as a mark of respect, greeting, or assent
take a bow
to acknowledge or receive applause or praise
See also
bow out
Word Origin for bow
Old English
būgan, related to Old Norse
bjūgr bent, Old High German
biogan to bend, Dutch
buigen
British Dictionary definitions for bower (5 of 7)
bow
2
/ (bəʊ) /
noun
verb
to form or cause to form a curve or curves
to make strokes of a bow across (violin strings)
Word Origin for bow
Old English
boga arch, bow; related to Old Norse
bogi a bow, Old High German
bogo, Old Irish
bocc, and
bow
1
British Dictionary definitions for bower (6 of 7)
bow
3
/ (baʊ) /
noun
mainly nautical
- (often plural) the forward end or part of a vessel
- (as modifier)the bow mooring line
rowing short for bowman 2
on the port bow nautical
within 45 degrees to the port of straight ahead
on the starboard bow nautical
within 45 degrees to the starboard of straight ahead
a shot across someone's bows informal
a warning
Word Origin for bow
C15: probably from Low German
boog; related to Dutch
boeg, Danish
bov ship's bow, shoulder; see
bough
British Dictionary definitions for bower (7 of 7)
Bow
/ (bəʊ) /
noun
Clara, known as the It Girl . 1905–65, US film actress, noted for her vivacity and sex appeal
Idioms and Phrases with bower
bow