The bells of Bow Church, i.e., St. Mary-le-Bow, formerly ‘Seyn Marye Chyrche of þe Arches,’ in Cheapside, London (so called from the ‘bows’ or arches that supported its steeple. Cf. ARCH.) This church having long had a celebrated peal of bells, and being nearly in the center of the City, the phrase ‘within the sound of Bow-bells’ has come to be synonymous with ‘within the City bounds.’ Also attrib., as in Bow-bell cockney. transf. A loud tongue (obs.).
1600. Rowlands, Lett. Humours Blood, iv. 65. I scorne … To let a Bowe-bell Cockney put me downe.
1611. Coryat’s Crudities, Pref. Verses. Peale thy praise with Roupe & Bow-bell clapper.
1616. T. Adams, Soul’s Sickn., Wks. 1861, I. 499. The tenor or bow-bell is the abused creatures.
a. 1659. Cleveland, Talkative Wom., 38. Thy Tong … That Tom a Lincoln and Bow-bell.
1884. Punch, 30 Dec., 294/2. Having been born within the sound of Bow Bells, he cannot help being a son of Cockaigne.
