bowel
UK: ˈbaʊəl | US: ˈbaʊəl
n. (often plural) The part of the digestive system below the stomach; the intestines.
n. (figurative) The innermost or deepest part of something.
The word "bowel" traces back to Middle English bowel, derived from Old French boel, which in turn came from Latin botellus (meaning "small intestine" or "sausage"). The Latin term is a diminutive of botulus (sausage), humorously referencing the coiled shape of intestines. The morpheme bow- preserves the archaic sense of "intestine," while -el acts as a noun-forming suffix. Over time, the word expanded metaphorically to signify the "innermost part" of abstract concepts.
The doctor examined her bowel for signs of infection.
He felt a sharp pain in his bowels after eating spoiled food.
The novel delves into the bowels of human despair.
Ancient maps labeled unexplored regions as the "bowels of the earth."
She donated to charities that aid children with bowel diseases.