bowden

intransitive verb

bow·​den

ˈbōdᵊn

-ed/-ing/-s

Scottish

: swell

specifically : bloat

Word History

Etymology

earlier Scots boldin, from Middle English (Scots) boldnen, alteration of Middle English bolnen, modification of Old Norse bolgna; akin to Old English & Old High German belgan to be angry, Old Norse bolginn swollen, belgja to cause to swell, Old English belg, bælg bag, skin

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