bowery

1 of 2

noun

bow·​ery ˈbau̇(-ə)r-ē 

plural boweries

1

: a colonial Dutch plantation or farm

2

[Bowery, street in New York City] : a city district known for cheap bars and for having many unhoused people living in the streets

bowery

2 of 2

adjective

: like a bower (see bower entry 1) : full of bowers

… many other choice flowers, which thrive best in partial shade, perfumed this bowery walk, and decked it with endless bloom. Near the southern end, the bower-alley was widened to ten or twelve feet.

—William Bottrell

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Dutch bouwerij, from bouwer farmer, from bouwen to till; akin to Old High German būan to dwell

First Known Use

Noun

1650, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1713, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for bowery

• flowery
• lowery
• showery