n. [ OE. bolle, AS. bolla; akin to Icel. bolli, Dan. bolle, G. bolle, and perh. to E. boil a tumor. Cf. Boll. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. A concave vessel of various forms (often approximately hemispherical), to hold liquids, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Brought them food in bowls of basswood. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Specifically, a drinking vessel for wine or other spirituous liquors; hence, convivial drinking. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The contents of a full bowl; what a bowl will hold. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The hollow part of a thing; as, the bowl of a spoon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. boule, fr. L. bulla bubble, stud. Cf. Bull an edict, Bill a writing. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. A ball of wood or other material used for rolling on a level surface in play; a ball of hard wood having one side heavier than the other, so as to give it a bias when rolled. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. pl. An ancient game, popular in Great Britain, played with biased balls on a level plat of greensward. [ 1913 Webster ]

Like an uninstructed bowler, . . . who thinks to attain the jack by delivering his bowl straightforward upon it. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. pl. The game of tenpins or bowling. [ U.S. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Bowled p. pr. & vb. n. Bowling. ] 1. To roll, as a bowl or cricket ball. [ 1913 Webster ]

Break all the spokes and fellies from her wheel,
And bowl the round nave down the hill of heaven. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To roll or carry smoothly on, or as on, wheels; as, we were bowled rapidly along the road. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To pelt or strike with anything rolled. [ 1913 Webster ]

Alas, I had rather be set quick i' the earth,
And bowled to death with turnips&unr_; Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

To bowl (a player)
out, in cricket, to put out a striker by knocking down a bail or a stump in bowling. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To play with bowls. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To roll a ball on a plane, as at cricket, bowls, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To move rapidly, smoothly, and like a ball; as, the carriage bowled along. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Characterized by bowlders. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A crooked leg. Jer. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From 2d Bowl. ] A derby hat. [ Eng. ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. One who plays at bowls, or who rolls the ball in cricket or any other game. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Destitute of a bow. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. the quantity contained in a bowl.
Syn. -- bowl. [ WordNet 1.5 ]