bowel

[bou-uhl, boul]

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.

verb (used with object)

boweled, boweling , bowelled, bowelling .

1. to disembowel.

bowel

/ 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

bowel

1. The intestine.

Other Word Forms

• bowelless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of bowel¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of bowel¹

C13: from Old French bouel , from Latin botellus a little sausage, from botulus sausage

Example Sentences

The project lost $2 million between two suspended grants, lending to a slowdown in research to develop new treatments for inflammatory bowel disease.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"By the time he got there, his appendix was completely burst, he had a blocked bowel, it was twisted. He was in a real mess," she said.

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Esmée was born at 28 weeks and spent her early months in intensive care, requiring surgery on her brain, lungs, and bowel.

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The Norfolk-based doctor has lupus, severe endometriosis, bladder and bowel damage as well as hip problems, which mean she uses mobility aids.

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Children are being failed by the absence of dedicated bladder and bowel services in some parts of the country, an expert said.

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Related Words

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