bowler

A bowler is a term with multiple meanings in English. In sports, a bowler is a person who delivers the ball toward a target. In cricket, a bowler delivers the ball to the batsman, using pace, swing, seam, or spin to dismiss the batsman or restrict runs. In ten-pin bowling, a bowler rolls a heavy ball along a lane to knock down pins and score points; professional bowlers compete on tours and in championships, and players may specialize by grip, release, and approach.

The bowler hat, or derby in North America, is a hard felt hat with a rounded crown and a narrow brim. It was created in 1849 by London hat-makers Thomas and William Bowler for gamekeepers, designed to resist being crushed by branches while riding. It later became a fashionable headwear item in Britain and beyond, associated with urban professionals and certain iconic figures.

The word is also used as a surname. In other contexts, it may appear in place names or brand names, but its primary associations are with the sport of bowling and with the hat.