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. :-)
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).
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.
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?
This is my favorite WeirdNet definition ever. Academic and impartial as always. ;-)
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. :-)
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).
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.
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?
Don't blame Wordie--that's WordNet's (or as we call it, WeirdNet's) definition.
yesh! ..way to put down a whole neighbourhood, wordie :(