fowles: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Extremely Low (Obsolete/Archaic)Archaic, Historical, Literary, Dialectal
Quick answer
What does “fowles” mean?
A Middle English and archaic spelling of 'fowls' (plural) or 'fowl's' (possessive), meaning birds, especially domestic birds like chickens or game birds. In modern usage, it is an obsolete form.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A Middle English and archaic spelling of 'fowls' (plural) or 'fowl's' (possessive), meaning birds, especially domestic birds like chickens or game birds. In modern usage, it is an obsolete form.
Mostly encountered in historical, poetic, or dialectal texts. It can also be found as a surname derived from an occupation (bird catcher or poultry keeper).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No contemporary difference; the form is equally obsolete in both varieties.
Connotations
Evokes Chaucer, medieval poetry, or historical dialect (e.g., Yorkshire, Scotland). In a modern text, it signals deliberate historical setting or poetic license.
Frequency
Virtually zero in modern corpora. Slightly more likely to appear in UK contexts in discussions of Chaucer ('The Canterbury Tales' opens with references to 'smale foweles').
Grammar
How to Use “fowles” in a Sentence
[plural subject] + VERB[PREP] + fowles + [of + LOCATION][ADJ] + fowlesVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “fowles” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Obsolete/Non-standard) He fowles for his supper. (intended: 'fowls' or 'fowleth')
American English
- (Obsolete/Non-standard) They went out to fowles in the marsh. (intended: 'fowl')
adverb
British English
- (Non-existent) Not applicable.
American English
- (Non-existent) Not applicable.
adjective
British English
- (Non-existent) Not applicable.
American English
- (Non-existent) Not applicable.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used only in historical linguistics, medieval literature, or onomastics (study of surnames).
Everyday
Not used. Using it would cause confusion.
Technical
Not used in any modern technical fields.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “fowles”
- Using 'fowles' in modern writing.
- Confusing it with 'fouls' (verb) or 'fools'.
- Misspelling the modern plural 'fowls' as 'fowles'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Fowles' is an archaic Middle English spelling. The modern standard plural is 'fowls'.
Primarily in Middle English literature (e.g., Geoffrey Chaucer), historical documents, or as a surname.
Pronounce it the same as the modern word 'fowls' (/faʊlz/). The spelling difference does not indicate a different pronunciation in Modern English.
Only in very specific creative contexts aiming for a historical, pseudo-medieval, or deliberately archaic poetic style. In all normal communication, it is incorrect.
A Middle English and archaic spelling of 'fowls' (plural) or 'fowl's' (possessive), meaning birds, especially domestic birds like chickens or game birds. In modern usage, it is an obsolete form.
Fowles is usually archaic, historical, literary, dialectal in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Archaic] Fowles of the air (birds of the sky)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'OWL' is in 'fOWLes' – an owl is a type of bird (fowl).
Conceptual Metaphor
N/A for obsolete form. For 'fowl': FOWL IS A RESOURCE (to hunt, to farm, to eat).
Practice
Quiz
What is the most accurate description of the word 'fowles' in contemporary English?