Bouey knife (Bowie knife) (Jan. 25, 1836)

[David Bowie]

From:    Wilson Gray <hwgray at GMAIL.COM>

> "Buidhe" indicates that the vowel is [u]. But where does the English
> spelling, "Bowie," which has plausibly led to the spelling
> pronunciation with [o], come from?

FWIW, *my* family pronounces "Bowie" as [bu.i], not [bo.i] (or the one
that i'm getting more and more commonly from telemarketers, [bau.i]).
I've had a few students wonder if there was a Great Vowel Shift o>u
thing involved; i doubt it, but i haven't bothered to look into it
enough to disprove it.

--
David Bowie                               University of Central Florida
     Jeanne's Two Laws of Chocolate: If there is no chocolate in the
     house, there is too little; some must be purchased. If there is
     chocolate in the house, there is too much; it must be consumed.

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