The Bottoms
In Appalachian and Southern speech, "the bottoms" means low-lying farmland or homesteads along a river or creek. It’s the local shorthand for "bottom land."
Hillbilly Dude Says...
We've always called it 'bottom land', so 'the bottoms' may be more regional. Hillbilly Dude Says...
We've always called it 'bottom land', so 'the bottoms' may be more regional. Pronunciation
[thuh BAH-dumz]
Meaning & Usage
- Low-lying farmland along rivers or creeks (noun phrase)
Mae:
Where’s their farm at?
Where’s their farm at?
Earl:
Down in the bottoms.
Down in the bottoms.- A community or settlement in river-bottom country (noun phrase)
Mae:
Who lives down in the bottoms now?
Who lives down in the bottoms now?variations: bottom land, bottomland, river bottoms, low ground, the lowlands, the fields, down by the river
★ "The bottoms" usually carries both richness and risk - great soil, but prone to flooding. ★
Origin and Etymology
From "bottom land," meaning fertile ground along rivers. Locals shortened it to "the bottoms" in everyday talk.
Usage Notes
Common in Appalachian and Southern rural speech. Still heard when describing farmland, homesteads, or hunting grounds near rivers.
Say It Like a Southerner
Said plain: "thuh bah-dumz." "Bottoms" usually flattens in speech.