[f. BOW v.1 + -ER1.]
1. One who bows, stoops, etc.; (see BOW v.1)
1630. Prynne, Lame Giles, 44. The Anti-puritan bowers at the name of Iesus.
1641. R. Brooke, Eng. Episc., II. vii. 113. Bowers and Cringers.
1849. Life J. Skinner, iv. (1884), 60. When the bow is made, the bower walks out of the room.
† 2. One who bends anything. Obs.
1579. North, Plutarch, 5. A wreather, or bower of pyne apple trees: whom he put to death.
† 3. That which causes to bend; esp. a muscle.
1596. Spenser, F. Q., I. viii. 42. His rawbone armes, whose mighty brawned bowrs Were wont to rive steele plates.
1611. Cotgr., Flecheurs, benders, pliers, bowers … the muscles that serue to bow the joynts of the fingers.
