name · noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
UK:/ˈbəʊ.jə(ɹ)/
US:/ˈbɔɪ.ɚ/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:B OW1 Y ER0
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
name
Meaning 1
A surname originating as an occupation for someone who made bows for archery.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
A person who makes or sells bows (for use with arrows).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
A person who uses the bow, an archer.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From Middle English bowyere, bowȝere, variant forms of bowere (“bowyer”), equivalent to bow + -yer.
Across languages
Translations
5 source translations are retained for this English entry.
German:
Bogenbauer
— person who makes or sells bows
German:
Bogenbauerin
— person who makes or sells bows
Latin:
arcuarius
— person who makes or sells bows
Turkish:
okçu
— person who makes or sells bows
Ottoman Turkish:
اوقجی
(okcu)
— person who makes or sells bows