Bowdler

B3O1W4D2L1E1R1

proper noun

A surname.

RareScrabble 13

Meanings

proper noun

Origin

As "de Boelare", the surname dates back to the 11th century, from the name of a town, "Boelare" (now known as "Nederboelare"). Descends from Baldwin de Boelare, who was of a Flemish family and whose surname was variously recorded "de Boulers", "de Boullers", "de Bollers" or "de Bullers" when he came to England, as phonetic variations; this variation appeared later. Alternatively, from the name of some ancient employment; may be related to buddler.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Bowdler. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Bowdler

MLA

“Bowdler.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Bowdler. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Bowdler,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Bowdler.

Source: Bowdler on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.