What does "bowel" mean?

1. (intestines) the long tube in your body that processes food and carries waste away. 2. (deep interior) the deepest or most hidden parts of something, like a building or a ship. 3. (pity or mercy) an old way of talking about a person's ability to feel pity or kindness. 4. (to remove organs) to take the internal organs out of a person or animal.

How do you use "bowel"?

Often used in the medical phrase 'bowel movement' to refer to the act of passing waste. Almost always used in the plural form 'bowels' when referring to interiors.

bowel

n. · v.

US //ˈbaʊəɫ// UK //bˈaʊəl// bow·el

1 intestines (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Medicine

the long tube in your body that processes food and carries waste away.

the part of the alimentary canal below the stomach; the intestines, particularly the large intestine.

Example

The doctor asked if he had been having regular bowel movements lately.

Example

Chronic inflammation of the bowel can lead to significant discomfort and requires a carefully managed diet to avoid flare-ups.

Usage

Often used in the medical phrase 'bowel movement' to refer to the act of passing waste.
- intestine
- gut
- entrails
2 deep interior (n.)
C1 Advanced Literary

the deepest or most hidden parts of something, like a building or a ship.

the deep or innermost parts of a physical structure or geographic feature.

Example

The engineers spent all day working in the dark bowels of the ship.

Example

Deep within the bowels of the old library, researchers discovered a collection of manuscripts that had been forgotten for centuries.

Usage

Almost always used in the plural form 'bowels' when referring to interiors.
- surface
- exterior

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3 pity or mercy (n.)
C2 Proficiency Archaic

an old way of talking about a person's ability to feel pity or kindness.

the seat of pity or the gentler emotions; the capacity for mercy.

Example

The cruel king showed no bowels of compassion for his prisoners.

Example

The poet appealed to the judge's bowels of mercy, hoping for a lighter sentence for the impoverished thief.

Teacher's tip

This sense is found almost exclusively in historical literature or religious texts like the King James Bible.
- cruelty
4 to remove organs (v.)
C2 Proficiency Archaic

to take the internal organs out of a person or animal.

to eviscerate or disembowel a creature.

Example

The hunters would bowel the deer immediately after the catch.

Example

In ancient times, certain execution methods involved the public act of bowelling the condemned while they were still alive.
- disembowel
- eviscerate

Origin

Borrowed from Middle French bouel, from Old French boïel, from Latin botellus, diminutive of botulus (“sausage”). Doublet of boyau.