bow street: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Historical
Quick answer
What does “bow street” mean?
A street in the Covent Garden area of London, historically famous as the location of a principal magistrate's court and, earlier, the Bow Street Runners.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A street in the Covent Garden area of London, historically famous as the location of a principal magistrate's court and, earlier, the Bow Street Runners.
Used as a metonym for the early London police force (Bow Street Runners) or the former magistrates' court. In modern contexts, it can also refer broadly to the English legal system or London's historical criminal justice apparatus.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is almost exclusively used in British English due to its specific historical and geographical reference. It is largely unknown in general American English.
Connotations
In British English, it connotes historical law enforcement, the early development of the police, and the London legal establishment. It may evoke a Georgian/Regency-era London atmosphere.
Frequency
Very low frequency in everyday speech. Appears primarily in historical texts, legal history, tours of London, or period dramas.
Grammar
How to Use “bow street” in a Sentence
[The/British] + [history/legacy/origin] + of + Bow StreetBow Street + [Runners/Court/Magistrate]based at/in + Bow StreetVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bow street” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The suspect was Bow-Streeted before being sent to Newgate.
- (Note: This is a rare, non-standard historical verbification, meaning 'to be processed at Bow Street')
American English
- Not used.
adverb
British English
- Not used.
American English
- Not used.
adjective
British English
- The Bow Street magistrate was known for his harsh sentences.
- He studied the Bow Street Runners' methods.
American English
- Not used.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually unused.
Academic
Used in historical, legal, or criminology papers discussing 18th/19th century British law enforcement.
Everyday
Rare. Might be mentioned on a London tour or in historical discussion.
Technical
Used as a proper noun in legal history or historical criminology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bow street”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “bow street”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bow street”
- Pronouncing 'Bow' to rhyme with 'cow' (incorrect). The correct pronunciation rhymes with 'go'.
- Using it as a common noun, e.g., 'He was taken to a bow street.' (Incorrect; must be capitalised and used as a proper noun).
- Assuming it is a current, active court (it closed in 2006).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, the Bow Street Magistrates' Court closed in 2006. The building now houses a museum and other facilities.
The Bow Street Runners (mid-18th to early 19th century) were a small, early detective force. The Metropolitan Police (established 1829) was a large, uniformed, preventive police force for London.
It is pronounced /bəʊ/ (UK) or /boʊ/ (US), rhyming with 'go', not like the verb 'bow' (/baʊ/). It is named after the shape ('bow' or curve) of the street.
No, it is an archaic historical reference. Using it to refer to modern police would be confusing and incorrect.
A street in the Covent Garden area of London, historically famous as the location of a principal magistrate's court and, earlier, the Bow Street Runners.
Bow street is usually formal, historical in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specifically. The term itself is used almost idiomatically to mean 'the early London police'.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a police officer taking a BOW after catching a criminal on a London STREET. This connects 'Bow Street' to its history as the birthplace of an organized police force.
Conceptual Metaphor
INSTITUTION FOR PLACE (The place 'Bow Street' metaphorically stands for the court and police force that operated there).
Practice
Quiz
What is 'Bow Street' most historically significant for?