bowel

American  

[bou-uhl, boul] / ˈbaʊ əl, baʊl /

noun

1. Anatomy.

   1. Usually bowels. the intestine.

   2. a part of the intestine.

2. bowels,

   1. the inward or interior parts.

      the bowels of the earth.

   2. Archaic. feelings of pity or compassion.

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verb (used with object)

boweled, boweling, bowelled, bowelling

1. to disembowel.

bowel British  

/ ˈbaʊəl /

noun

1. an intestine, esp the large intestine in man

2. (plural) innards; entrails

3. (plural) the deep or innermost part (esp in the phrase the bowels of the earth )

4. archaic (plural) the emotions, esp of pity or sympathy

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bowel Scientific  

/ bou′əl /

1. The intestine.

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Other Word Forms

• bowelless adjective

Etymology

Origin of bowel

1250–1300; Middle English b ( o ) uel < Old French < Latin botellus little sausage ( bot ( ulus ) sausage + -ellus -elle )

Example Sentences

A disgraced surgeon whose artificial bowel mesh procedures injured more than 450 patients has cost the NHS more £20m in compensation payments, the BBC has been told.

From BBC • Apr. 20, 2026

When disease-causing bacteria enter the bloodstream, they may play a role in serious conditions such as diabetes, rheumatic disease, arthritis, cardiovascular disease, chronic inflammatory bowel disease, and even Alzheimer's disease.

From Science Daily • Apr. 13, 2026

Pelvic floor muscles are a sling-like layer of muscles spanning the bottom of the pelvis, crucial for supporting the bladder, bowel, and uterus.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

Inflammatory bowel disease, which includes ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, has not been studied extensively when it comes to diet.

From Science Daily • Apr. 3, 2026

Warm water often caused Clare to have a bowel movement, yet no matter how gross the water, Mandy and I would still have to get in it later.

From "Three Little Words: A Memoir" by Ashley Rhodes-Courter

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