bower

¹ American  

[bou-er] / ˈbaʊ ər /

noun

1. a leafy shelter or recess; arbor.

2. a rustic dwelling; cottage.

3. a lady's boudoir in a medieval castle.

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verb (used with object)

1. to enclose in or as in a bower; embower.

bower ² American  

[bou-er] / ˈbaʊ ər /

noun

Nautical.

1. an anchor carried at a ship's bow.

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bower ³ American  

[bou-er] / ˈbaʊ ər /

noun

1. a person or thing that bows or bends.

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bower ⁴ American  

[boh-er] / ˈboʊ ər /

noun

Music.

1. a musician, as a violinist, who performs with a bow on a stringed instrument.

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bower ¹ British  

/ ˈbaʊə /

noun

1. a shady leafy shelter or recess, as in a wood or garden; arbour

2. literary a lady's bedroom or apartments, esp in a medieval castle; boudoir

3. literary a country cottage, esp one regarded as charming or picturesque

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bower ² British  

/ ˈbaʊə /

noun

1. nautical a vessel's bow anchor

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bower ³ British  

/ ˈbaʊə /

noun

1. a jack in euchre and similar card games

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Other Word Forms

• bowerlike adjective
• bowery adjective

Etymology

Origin of bower¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English bour, bur, bure “dwelling, shelter, bower,” Old English būr “dwelling, shelter, chamber”; cognate with Old Norse būr “pantry, storehouse,” German Bauer “cage, birdcage”; akin to neighbor

Origin of bower²

First recorded in 1645–55; bow ³ + -er ¹

Origin of bower³

First recorded in 1590–1600; bow ¹ + -er ¹

Origin of bower⁴

First recorded in 1650–70; bow ², -er ¹