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

"If bowel cancer is diagnosed at its earliest stage, more than nine people in 10 will survive it," she said.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

This discovery may also help explain a range of digestive issues, including food intolerances and irritable bowel syndrome.

From Science Daily • Mar. 28, 2026

Disruptions in this newly identified signaling pathway may play a role in conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, food intolerances, and chronic visceral pain.

From Science Daily • Mar. 28, 2026

And these foods are linked to a range of chronic health issues, including Type 2 diabetes, obesity, heart disease, certain types of cancer, irritable bowel syndrome and even early death.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 23, 2026

“From now on,” he said, his face utterly serious, “I want a full report on all of your bowel movements.”

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French

Related Words

• decimate
• empty
• eviscerate
• loot
• ransack
• ravage