bowler

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈbəʊ.lə/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈboʊ.lɚ/

• Audio (US)

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• Rhymes: -əʊlə(r)

A bowler (bowling)

From bowl +‎ -er.

bowler (plural bowlers)

1. (bowling) One who engages in the sport of bowling.
2. (cricket) The player currently bowling.
3. (cricket) A player selected mainly for his bowling ability.
4. (baseball, slang, 1800s) The pitcher.

• (pitcher): pitcher

Man wearing a bowler.

From the name of the hatmakers Thomas and William Bowler, associated with early production.

bowler (plural bowlers)

1. A bowler hat; a round black hat formerly popular among British businessmen.
   • 1929, Baldwyn Dyke Acland, chapter 2, in Filibuster‎:

     “One marble hall, with staircase complete, one butler and three flunkeys to receive a retired sojer who dares to ring the bell. D'you know, old boy, I gave my bowler to the butler, whangee to one flunkey, gloves to another, and there was the fourth poor blighter looking like an orphan at a Mothers' Meeting. …"

• (hat): derby (US)

• Bowler hat on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

• Blower, Wrobel, blower, worble