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bowel definition

bowel (bo̵uəl)

noun

  1. an intestine, esp. of a human being; gut: usually used in pl.
  2. the interior or inner part the bowels of the mountain
  3. Archaic the inside of the body, regarded as the source of pity, tenderness, etc.; hence, tender emotions

Etymology: ME bouel < boele < OFr buele < ML botellum, intestine < L botellus, dim. of botulus, sausage, via Oscan or Umbrian < IE base *gwet-, a swelling > OE cwitha, womb

transitive verb boweled -·eled or bowelled -·elled, boweling -·el·ing or bowelling -·el·ling

to disembowel
bowel Idioms

move one's bowels

to pass waste matter from the large intestine; defecate

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