Meaning & Definition of word "Bowels"

Bowels

/ˈbaʊəlz/

noun:

  • 1. The intestines, especially the lower part of the alimentary canal, responsible for digestion and excretion.
    • Example: After the meal, he felt a rumbling in his bowels.
  • 2. The interior or deep part of something.
    • Example: The explorers ventured deep into the bowels of the ancient cave.
  • 3. Often used in a figurative sense to refer to the innermost parts or depths of something.
    • Example: The bowels of the city were filled with secrets and forgotten stories.

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English 'būgan' (to bend, bow), and related to the notion of something being enclosed.

Common Phrases and Expressions

gut feeling:

An instinctive feeling about a situation.

gut reaction:

A natural, instinctive response.

spill your guts:

To tell someone all your secrets or feelings.

Related Words

intestine:

The long tube through which food passes after it has been digested in the stomach.

guts:

The organs located in the abdominal cavity.

viscera:

Internal organs in the main cavities of the body, especially those in the abdominal cavity.

Slang Meanings of bowels

Meaning: To have an upset stomach.

Example Sentence: After the party, I had serious bowels.

Meaning: A reference to diarrhea.

Example Sentence: He's got the bowels today from that sketchy food.