# fowler

/ˈfaʊɫɝ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fowler
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a bird hunter

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary · Archaic

a person who hunts wild birds for food or sport.

For teachers: a hunter of wildfowl, typically using nets, decoys, or firearms.

- The old fowler set his nets by the lake before the sun came up.
- In the marshes of the eastern coast, the fowler relied on ancient techniques to capture migrating ducks without damaging their plumage.

Usage: Often found in historical or literary texts describing rural life.

Teaching tip: This sense is largely archaic; modern speakers would simply say 'bird hunter' or 'duck hunter'.

### 2. medical sitting position

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a position where a hospital patient sits up at an angle to help them breathe.

For teachers: a standard patient position in which the head of the bed is elevated between 45 and 60 degrees.

- The nurse moved the patient into a fowler position to make it easier for him to eat.
- Maintaining the patient in a high Fowler's position is essential for preventing aspiration and improving lung expansion during recovery.

Usage: Usually appears as 'Fowler's position' or 'high/low Fowler'.

Teaching tip: This is a highly specialised term used by healthcare professionals; it is almost never used by the general public.

## Examples

- The fowler set a trap in the marsh to catch ducks.
- In the early morning mist, the fowler moved silently through the reeds to reach his hidden nets.
- The painting depicts a solitary fowler returning from the wetlands at dusk, his silhouette framed against a sky filled with migrating geese.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.