noun Uncommon

Bowie

BOH-ee

Bowie (noun) means a thick, single-edged fixed-blade knife, traditionally with a clipped point, used for hunting and self-defense. Example: “He carried a bowie knife strapped to his belt on the camping trip.”

noun

A thick, single-edged fixed-blade knife, traditionally with a clipped point, used for hunting and self-defense.

"He carried a bowie knife strapped to his belt on the camping trip."

"The museum displayed an antique bowie with an engraved handle."

How to use Bowie

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA big, sturdy hunting knife named after a famous frontiersman.

Common pairings

bowie knife carry a bowie

Word forms

bowies plural

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He carried a _____ knife strapped to his belt on the camping trip.

Etymology

Named after Jim Bowie, the 19th-century American frontiersman associated with this style of large hunting knife.

· First attested 1800

Class of 1800 Bowie joined the language around 1800.

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Synonyms

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hunting knife fixed-blade knife sheath knife

Rhymes for Bowie

pie die lie tie sie vie hie i.e. brie movie eerie moxie

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Frequently asked questions

What does “Bowie” mean?

The word “Bowie” means a thick, single-edged fixed-blade knife, traditionally with a clipped point, used for hunting and self-defense. In plain terms, a big, sturdy hunting knife named after a famous frontiersman.

How do you pronounce “Bowie”?

“Bowie” is pronounced BOH-ee (/ˈboʊ.i/ in IPA).

How do you use “Bowie” in a sentence?

Here is “Bowie” used in a sentence: “He carried a bowie knife strapped to his belt on the camping trip.”

What part of speech is “Bowie”?

“Bowie” is a noun.

Where does the word “Bowie” come from?

The word “Bowie” dates back to around 1800. Named after Jim Bowie, the 19th-century American frontiersman associated with this style of large hunting knife.

Is “Bowie” a common word?

“Bowie” is an uncommon word in modern English.

What makes a Bowie knife different from other hunting knives?

A Bowie knife is a thick, single-edged fixed-blade knife traditionally featuring a clipped point, designed for both hunting and self-defense. Its distinctive blade shape and sturdy build set it apart from thinner, general-purpose hunting knives.

Why is it capitalized as "Bowie knife"?

"Bowie" is capitalized because it functions as a proper noun in this context, naming a specific style of knife rather than describing a generic type of blade.

Is a Bowie knife the same as a machete?

No, a Bowie knife is a fixed-blade knife with a clipped point designed for hunting and self-defense, while a machete is typically longer and thinner and used mainly for cutting through vegetation.