different between scowl vs scow

English

Etymology 1

From Middle English scowlen, scoulen, skoulen (also as Middle English schoulen), probably of North Germanic origin. Compare Danish skule (“to scowl”), Norwegian skule (“to scowl”).

Pronunciation

• enPR: skoul, IPA^(key): /ska?l/
• Rhymes: -a?l

Noun

scowl (plural scowls)

1. The wrinkling of the brows or face in frowning; the expression of displeasure, sullenness, or discontent in the countenance; an angry frown.
2. (by extension) Gloom; dark or threatening aspect.

Derived terms

• scowlful
• scowly

Translations

Verb

scowl (third-person singular simple present scowls, present participle scowling, simple past and past participle scowled)

1. (intransitive) To wrinkle the brows, as in frowning or displeasure; to put on a frowning look; to look sour, sullen, severe, or angry.
2. (intransitive, by extension) To look gloomy, dark, or threatening; to lower.

   • The scowling heavens.

3. (transitive) To look at or repel with a scowl or a frown.

4. (transitive) To express by a scowl.

Translations

Etymology 2

Noun

scowl (uncountable)

1. (Britain, dialect, obsolete) Old workings of iron ore.

Anagrams

• Clows, cowls

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Dutch schouw

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -a?

Noun

scow (plural scows)

1. A large flat-bottomed boat, having broad, square ends.
   • 1899, Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness, ch 2:

     This steamboat was exactly like a decked scow.

Verb

scow (third-person singular simple present scows, present participle scowing, simple past and past participle scowed)

1. (transitive) To transport in a scow.

Anagrams

• CWOs, cows