Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Sheltered by trees; leafy; shady.
  • noun archaic In the early settlements of New York State, USA, a farm or estate.

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

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Examples

Comments

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  • yesh! ..way to put down a whole neighbourhood, wordie :(

    January 14, 2008

  • Don't blame Wordie--that's WordNet's (or as we call it, WeirdNet's) definition.

    January 14, 2008

  • WeirdNet definitions are there as a spur to conversation and discussion... so thanks for posting, mikeropology! Are you from the Bowery, or have you lived there?

    January 14, 2008

  • I used to live not far from the Bowery. That definition was certainly correct for decades, and I think the notion of the "Bowery bum" became so commonplace that the term transcended geography. Personally I think the WordNet def above is relevant, even if it's not so accurate these days.

    Nowadays the Bowery is better known for restaurant supply stores.

    January 14, 2008

  • Yay, I got people talking about this! It was a college haunt of mine; Bowery Ballroom, CBGB's, Canal Street.. but I really just like the sound of the word. Its historical origins are kinda interesting too ("bouwerij" being old Dutch for farm).

    January 14, 2008

  • Mikeropology, have you read The Island at the Center of the World? Great book--and the author (Russell Shorto) includes quite a bit of information on phrases & words from the original Dutch colony of New York that have made it into American English.

    Recommended to me by none other than chained_bear. :-)

    January 14, 2008

  • This is my favorite WeirdNet definition ever. Academic and impartial as always. ;-)

    January 15, 2008