a. Obs. exc. dial. [Cf. BURLY; also BOWER sb.3 3.] Large; stout, burly.
1542. Udall, Erasm. Apophth., 184 b. He had seen … right greate and bowerly images.
1794. Wolcott (P. Pindar), Ep. to Bruce, Wks. II. 478. The bowerly hostess, for a cart-horse fit.
1864. Capern, Devon Provinc., Boverly, stout, rotund.
1880. Mrs. Parr, Adam & E., xxi. 298. Eve’s a fine bowerly maid.
1880. Miss Courtney, W. Cornw. Gloss., Bowerly, burly; corpulent.
1880. T. Couch, E. Cornw. Gloss., Bowerly, stately and comely.
