Emily Dickinson Lexicon

BOWL'ING-GREEN, n. [bowl and green.]

1. A level piece of ground kept smooth for bowling.
2. In gardening, a parterre in a grove, laid with fine turf, with compartments of divers figures, with dwarf trees and other decorations. It may be used for bowling; but the French and Italians have such greens for ornament. – Encyc.