n. [ Cf. D. boelijn, Icel. böglïna&unr_;, Dan. bovline; properly the line attached to the shoulder or side of the sail. See Bow (of a ship), and Line. ] (Naut.) A rope fastened near the middle of the leech or perpendicular edge of the square sails, by subordinate ropes, called bridles, and used to keep the weather edge of the sail tight forward, when the ship is closehauled. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bowline bridles, the ropes by which the bowline is fastened to the leech of the sail. --
Bowline knot. See Illust. under Knot. --
On a bowline, close-hauled or sailing close to the wind; -- said of a ship. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act of playing at or rolling bowls, or of rolling the ball at cricket; the game of bowls or of tenpins. [ 1913 Webster ]

Bowling alley, a covered place for playing at bowls or tenpins. --
Bowling green, a level piece of greensward or smooth ground for bowling, as the small park in lower Broadway, New York, where the Dutch of New Amsterdam played this game. [ 1913 Webster ]