bowlas
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Round tarts made of sugar, apple, and bread, sold in the streets, especially at the East-end of London.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “bowlas” mean?
Round tarts made of sugar, apple, and bread, sold in the streets, especially at the East-end of London.
Is “bowlas” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.