noun

bough

BOW

noun

A tree branch, especially one of the larger branches growing directly from the trunk.

"The old oak's lowest bough was strong enough to hold a swing."

"Snow piled up on every bough of the pine trees."

How to Use Bough

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA tree's branch, especially a big one coming off the trunk.

Common mistake

Pronounced like "bow" (rhymes with "cow"), not like the bow used to shoot arrows.

Easily confused with

bow →

boughs plural, Boughs plural

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Can you complete this real example?

The old oak's lowest _____ was strong enough to hold a swing.

From Old English bog/boh, meaning both "branch" and "shoulder" — the same ancient root that gave us the "bow" of a ship.

cough rough dough tough enough though plough slough trough clough through borough