From Middle English bowe, from Old English boga, Proto-West Germanic *bogō, from Proto-Germanic *bugô.
Cognates
Cognate with Saterland Frisian Booge (“arch, bow, curve”), West Frisian bôge (“arc, arch, bow”), Dutch boog (“arc, arch, bow”), German Bogen (“arc, arch, bow, curve”), Luxembourgish Bou (“arc, arch, bow, curve”), Vilamovian böga (“arc, arch, bend, bow, curve”), Yiddish בויגן (boygn, “arc, arch, bow, curve”), Danish bue (“arc, arch, bow, curve”), Faroese and Icelandic bogi (“arch, bow, vault”), Jamtish buga (“bow”), Norwegian Bokmål bue (“arc, arch, bow”), Norwegian Nynorsk boge (“arc, arch, bow”), Swedish båge (“bow”), Crimean Gothic boga (“bow”).
Meanings
A weapon made of a curved piece of wood or other flexible material whose ends are connected by a string, used for shooting arrows.
Holonym: bow and arrow
Bows come in a variety of different shapes, sizes and cultures, and what is true of one, is not necessarily true of another, so we're gonna be stereotyping here, but, in general, a bow is a way of launching a pointy stick at somebody that you don't like. 2024 November 28, blumineck, “Fantasy vs Reality: 5 weapons that fantasy gets wrong!”, in youtube.com, retrieved 07 May 2025:
A curved bend in a rod or planar surface, or in a linear formation such as a river (see oxbow).
A rod with horsehair (or an artificial substitute) stretched between the ends, used for playing various stringed musical instruments.
A stringed instrument (chordophone), consisting of a stick with a single taut cord stretched between the ends, most often played by plucking.
A type of knot with two loops, used to tie together two cords such as shoelaces or apron strings, and frequently used as decoration, such as in gift-wrapping.
Anything bent or curved, such as a rainbow.
I do set my bow in the cloud. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Genesis 9:13:
The U-shaped piece which goes around the neck of an ox and fastens it to the yoke.
Either of the arms of a pair of spectacles, running from the side of the lens to behind the wearer's ear.
[…] she kept toying with a pair of old sunglasses which lay beside her on the kitchen table. One of the bows had been mended with adhesive tape, and one of the lenses was cracked. 1991, Stephen King, Needful Things:
Any instrument consisting of an elastic rod, with ends connected by a string, employed for giving reciprocating motion to a drill, or for preparing and arranging hair, fur, etc., used by hatters.
A crude sort of quadrant formerly used for taking the sun's altitude at sea.
Two pieces of wood which form the arched forward part of a saddle tree.
The part of a key that is not inserted into the lock and that is used to turn the key.
musical bow (a type of stringed instrument) · bend (bow-shaped bend) · arc (bow-shaped bend) · fiddlestick (tool for playing stringed instruments) · curve (bow-shaped bend)
Translations (358)
te విల్లు (weapon used for shooting arrows) · uz kamoncha (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · io arketo (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · fi jousi (weapon used for shooting arrows) · ar قوس (weapon used for shooting arrows) · sh gùdalo (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · cv ухӑ (weapon used for shooting arrows) · ab ахыц (weapon used for shooting arrows) · se dávgi (weapon used for shooting arrows) · mk гудало (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · ur کَمان (weapon used for shooting arrows) · id busur (weapon used for shooting arrows) · ca arc (weapon used for shooting arrows) · th โบ (type of knot with two loops) · lzz მშვილდი (weapon used for shooting arrows) · msk bosog (weapon used for shooting arrows) · sq hark (weapon used for shooting arrows) · is bogi (weapon used for shooting arrows) · alt бант (type of knot with two loops) · mn ᠨᠤᠮᠤ (weapon used for shooting arrows) · te ధనుస్సు (weapon used for shooting arrows) · bo གཞུ (weapon used for shooting arrows) · is slaufa (type of knot with two loops) · es arco (weapon used for shooting arrows) · cu лѫкъ (weapon used for shooting arrows) · tl pana (weapon used for shooting arrows) · mi whana (weapon used for shooting arrows) · io armarko (weapon used for shooting arrows) · wa arondi (bend in a rod or planar surface) · es lazo (type of knot with two loops) · ar اَنْشُوطَة (type of knot with two loops) · xdq бере́кка (weapon used for shooting arrows) · lt kaspinėlis (type of knot with two loops) · wa coube (bend in a rod or planar surface) · km ធនុ (weapon used for shooting arrows) · sc alcu (weapon used for shooting arrows) · lzz ტოკსარი (weapon used for shooting arrows) · ga bogha (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · tg камон (weapon used for shooting arrows) · ar عصاية (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · gl arco (weapon used for shooting arrows) · sux 𒄑𒉼 (weapon used for shooting arrows) · pt laço (type of knot with two loops) · ru бант (type of knot with two loops) · fi rusetti (type of knot with two loops) · th โบว์ (type of knot with two loops) · el δοξάρι (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · lt strykas (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · gv kiangle (type of knot with two loops) · eo arko (weapon used for shooting arrows) · lu buta (weapon used for shooting arrows) · egy T10:t*Z1 (weapon used for shooting arrows) · fr arc à flèches (weapon used for shooting arrows) · mi whana (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · sq ber (weapon used for shooting arrows) · atv согон (weapon used for shooting arrows) · cs ohyb (bend in a rod or planar surface) · xnb rupacʉ (weapon used for shooting arrows) · ny uta (weapon used for shooting arrows) · de Bogen (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · sl lok (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · sh за́вој (bend in a rod or planar surface) · fa کَمان (weapon used for shooting arrows) · scn arcu (weapon used for shooting arrows) · fi kaari (bend in a rod or planar surface) · nv ałtį́į́ʼ (weapon used for shooting arrows) · ru изги́б (bend in a rod or planar surface) · oc arc (weapon used for shooting arrows) · az yay (weapon used for shooting arrows) · ne धनुष (weapon used for shooting arrows) · he קֶשֶׁת (weapon used for shooting arrows) · sv båge (weapon used for shooting arrows) · tr yay (weapon used for shooting arrows) · bg лък (weapon used for shooting arrows) · zh 彎曲 /弯曲 (bend in a rod or planar surface) · ca corba (bend in a rod or planar surface) · is bogi (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · tum uta (weapon used for shooting arrows) · izh vannepyssy (weapon used for shooting arrows) · nrf artchet (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · nn boge (weapon used for shooting arrows) · niv пуньдь (weapon used for shooting arrows) · rup duxar (weapon used for shooting arrows) · crh dügüm (type of knot with two loops) · km ធ្នូ (weapon used for shooting arrows) · uz yoy (weapon used for shooting arrows) · sva ჴემა̈დ (weapon used for shooting arrows) · ro arcuș (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · sh lȗk (weapon used for shooting arrows) · pl kokarda (type of knot with two loops) · bg лък (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · uk смичо́к (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · ru ба́бочка (type of knot with two loops) · el αψίδα (bend in a rod or planar surface) · eu arku (weapon used for shooting arrows) · bg дъга (anything bent or curved) · de Bogen (weapon used for shooting arrows) · de Schleife (type of knot with two loops) · dak itazipe (weapon used for shooting arrows) · it arco (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · ro arc (weapon used for shooting arrows) · inh ӏад (weapon used for shooting arrows) · ko 활 (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · zh 弓 (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · cy bwâu (weapon used for shooting arrows) · fy bûging (weapon used for shooting arrows) · gd slatag (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · mk панделка (type of knot with two loops) · cy bwa (weapon used for shooting arrows) · ka მშვილდი (weapon used for shooting arrows) · wa air (weapon used for shooting arrows) · la arcus (weapon used for shooting arrows) · nl boog (bend in a rod or planar surface) · kgp vyj (weapon used for shooting arrows) · wa årbalesse (weapon used for shooting arrows) · wa fernuk (type of knot with two loops) · nl strik (type of knot with two loops) · kk қияқ (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · ur دَھنُش (weapon used for shooting arrows) · de Bogn (weapon used for shooting arrows) · zh гун (weapon used for shooting arrows) · lt kaspinas (type of knot with two loops) · af strykstok (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · fa آرشِه (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · chr ᎦᏦᏗ (weapon used for shooting arrows) · lt smičius (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · pal 𐭪𐭬𐭠𐭭 (weapon used for shooting arrows) · hu íj (weapon used for shooting arrows) · ket ӄыʼт (weapon used for shooting arrows) · ast arcu (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · sv rundning (bend in a rod or planar surface) · es lacito (type of knot with two loops) · az kaman (weapon used for shooting arrows) · lkt itázipa (weapon used for shooting arrows) · mi torowhiti (anything bent or curved) · tew á (weapon used for shooting arrows) · ga bogha (weapon used for shooting arrows) · pt curva (bend in a rod or planar surface) · rm arch (weapon used for shooting arrows) · gd bogha (bend in a rod or planar surface) · arw simarabo (weapon used for shooting arrows) · et vibu (weapon used for shooting arrows) · el φιόγκος (type of knot with two loops) · pt arco (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · cho iti tanampo (weapon used for shooting arrows) · fi nauharuusuke (type of knot with two loops) · pdt Boage (weapon used for shooting arrows) · gv bow (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · ky жаа (weapon used for shooting arrows) · ja 蝶結び (type of knot with two loops) · uk лук (weapon used for shooting arrows) · nb bue (weapon used for shooting arrows) · cs luk (weapon used for shooting arrows) · kk ысқы (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · sv rosett (type of knot with two loops) · bn ধনু (weapon used for shooting arrows) · pl smyczek (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · mnx inyomus (weapon used for shooting arrows) · rup arcu (weapon used for shooting arrows) · twf xwílena (weapon used for shooting arrows) · apw iłtį́ʼtsį́h (weapon used for shooting arrows) · jra hraŏ diu (weapon used for shooting arrows) · mn нум (weapon used for shooting arrows) · tr fiyonk (type of knot with two loops) · sh машна (type of knot with two loops) · ru ба́нтик (type of knot with two loops) · nmz tab (weapon used for shooting arrows) · it fiocco (type of knot with two loops) · ps ليندۍ (weapon used for shooting arrows) · sk luk (weapon used for shooting arrows) · ady кӏуснэщаб (weapon used for shooting arrows) · ml വില്ല് (weapon used for shooting arrows) · tya 'ipai aniyamo (weapon used for shooting arrows) · sv båge (bend in a rod or planar surface) · non bogi (weapon used for shooting arrows) · br gwareg (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · or କୋଦଣ୍ଡ (weapon used for shooting arrows) · nb sløyfe (type of knot with two loops) · th ธนู (weapon used for shooting arrows) · es lazada (type of knot with two loops) · sh гу̀дало (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · sh závoj (bend in a rod or planar surface) · fr arc (weapon used for shooting arrows) · sl lok (weapon used for shooting arrows) · el τόξο (bend in a rod or planar surface) · gd lùb (bend in a rod or planar surface) · bbl ატყ (weapon used for shooting arrows) · yi בויגן (weapon used for shooting arrows) · hu masni (type of knot with two loops) · ar قوس (weapon used for shooting arrows) · ckb کەوان (weapon used for shooting arrows) · udm пукыӵ (weapon used for shooting arrows) · lo ທະນຸ (weapon used for shooting arrows) · km ឆាក (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · gd bogha-saighde (weapon used for shooting arrows) · nl boog (weapon used for shooting arrows) · mnw တ္ၚ (weapon used for shooting arrows) · tr yay (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · ceb gapasan (weapon used for shooting arrows) · is bogi (bend in a rod or planar surface) · fur arc (weapon used for shooting arrows) · qu t'iwka (weapon used for shooting arrows) · be лук (weapon used for shooting arrows) · fy strykstôk (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · de Bogn (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · alt јаа (weapon used for shooting arrows) · sw upinde (weapon used for shooting arrows) · ms busur (weapon used for shooting arrows) · mt qaws (weapon used for shooting arrows) · izh bantta (type of knot with two loops) · ota دوگوم (type of knot with two loops) · lo ຄັນທະນູ (weapon used for shooting arrows) · zh 琴弓 (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · av чӏорбутӏ (weapon used for shooting arrows) · de Bogn (bend in a rod or planar surface) · evn бэр (weapon used for shooting arrows) · ltg lūks (weapon used for shooting arrows) · cs smyčec (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · oj naazhaabike'iganaak (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · wa tournant (bend in a rod or planar surface) · af boog (weapon used for shooting arrows) · ca llaç (type of knot with two loops) · crh bağ (type of knot with two loops) · rm artg (weapon used for shooting arrows) · hy աղեղ (weapon used for shooting arrows) · kk садақ (weapon used for shooting arrows) · th คันชัก (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · it arco (bend in a rod or planar surface) · za gung (weapon used for shooting arrows) · ta வில் (weapon used for shooting arrows) · fr archet (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · gld бури (weapon used for shooting arrows) · ang boga (weapon used for shooting arrows) · sh mašna (type of knot with two loops) · ia arco (weapon used for shooting arrows) · ug يا (weapon used for shooting arrows) · ky смычок (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · su gondéwa (weapon used for shooting arrows) · nn sløyfe (type of knot with two loops) · sw uta (weapon used for shooting arrows) · mww hneev nti (weapon used for shooting arrows) · os ӕрдӕн (weapon used for shooting arrows) · kyh xuskáamhar (weapon used for shooting arrows) · cho itti' tana̲po (weapon used for shooting arrows) · it archetto (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · ar قَوْس (weapon used for shooting arrows) · be смык (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · sc arcu (weapon used for shooting arrows) · zh 蝴蝶結 /蝴蝶结 (type of knot with two loops) · sh лу̑к (weapon used for shooting arrows) · el τόξο (weapon used for shooting arrows) · he קֶשֶׁת (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · ru лук (weapon used for shooting arrows) · mnb pana (weapon used for shooting arrows) · uz kamon (weapon used for shooting arrows) · xmf შქვილი (weapon used for shooting arrows) · pt arco (weapon used for shooting arrows) · zh 弓 (weapon used for shooting arrows) · br gwareg (weapon used for shooting arrows) · fo bogi (weapon used for shooting arrows) · oj mitigwaab (weapon used for shooting arrows) · sa चाप (weapon used for shooting arrows) · tl busog (weapon used for shooting arrows) · sa धनु (weapon used for shooting arrows) · bg изви́вка (bend in a rod or planar surface) · ko 활 (weapon used for shooting arrows) · gd bogha (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · fi jousi (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · atv дьа (weapon used for shooting arrows) · eo pafarko (weapon used for shooting arrows) · ko 궁 (weapon used for shooting arrows) · pl zagięcie (bend in a rod or planar surface) · nb bue (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · ms panah (weapon used for shooting arrows) · oj gashka'oojigan (type of knot with two loops) · fa خَم (bend in a rod or planar surface) · yue 弓 (weapon used for shooting arrows) · fr arc (bend in a rod or planar surface) · he קֶשֶׁת (bend in a rod or planar surface) · grc τόξον (weapon used for shooting arrows) · ar فيونكة (type of knot with two loops) · be смычо́к (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · hu vonó (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · io arko (weapon used for shooting arrows) · alt кӧбӧлӧк (type of knot with two loops) · ota زخمه (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · atv согун (weapon used for shooting arrows) · mrw pana' (weapon used for shooting arrows) · ar ببيونة (type of knot with two loops) · sky kavusu (weapon used for shooting arrows) · it arco (weapon used for shooting arrows) · sk sláčik (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · eo arĉo (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · ja 弓 (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · hi धनुष (weapon used for shooting arrows) · ain ク (weapon used for shooting arrows) · mi kōpere (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · zh 弓 (weapon used for shooting arrows) · sm ʻaufana (weapon used for shooting arrows) · lua buta (weapon used for shooting arrows) · sv stråke (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · cs klička (type of knot with two loops) · mk свиок (bend in a rod or planar surface) · da sløjfe (type of knot with two loops) · ckt тиӈур (weapon used for shooting arrows) · tyv ча (weapon used for shooting arrows) · ast arcu (weapon used for shooting arrows) · mnc ᠪᡝᡵᡳ (weapon used for shooting arrows) · sv pilbåge (weapon used for shooting arrows) · eo banto (type of knot with two loops) · vi vĩ (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · es arco (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · wa åtche (bend in a rod or planar surface) · nl strijkstok (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · pl łuk (weapon used for shooting arrows) · vo bob (weapon used for shooting arrows) · ee da (weapon used for shooting arrows) · cy bwa (type of knot with two loops) · mt ċoff (type of knot with two loops) · ca arc (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · as ধনু (weapon used for shooting arrows) · kl tagiut (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · uga 𐎖𐎌𐎚 (weapon used for shooting arrows) · kk жақ (weapon used for shooting arrows) · izh pankapyssy (weapon used for shooting arrows) · ru смычо́к (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · nb boge (weapon used for shooting arrows) · lv loks (weapon used for shooting arrows) · ru излу́чина (bend in a rod or planar surface) · wa airçon (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · cy bwa (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · de Bogen (bend in a rod or planar surface) · nn boge (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · hi कमान (weapon used for shooting arrows) · alt јаачак (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · tay bhunig (weapon used for shooting arrows) · fy bôge (weapon used for shooting arrows) · sv krökning (bend in a rod or planar surface) · my လေး (weapon used for shooting arrows) · pl zgięcie (bend in a rod or planar surface) · da bue (bend in a rod or planar surface) · tk ýaý (weapon used for shooting arrows) · da bue (weapon used for shooting arrows) · lt lankas (weapon used for shooting arrows) · ar قَوْس (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · gd bogha (weapon used for shooting arrows) · ja 弓 (weapon used for shooting arrows) · gv bow (weapon used for shooting arrows) · da bue (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · pi dhanu (weapon used for shooting arrows) · kmr kevan (weapon used for shooting arrows) · vi cung (weapon used for shooting arrows) · ce ӏад (weapon used for shooting arrows) · lv lociņš (rod used for playing stringed instruments) · bg па́нделка (type of knot with two loops) · ko 나비매듭 (type of knot with two loops) · ba йәйә (weapon used for shooting arrows) · mk лак (weapon used for shooting arrows)
From Middle English bowe, from Old English boga, Proto-West Germanic *bogō, from Proto-Germanic *bugô.
Cognates
Cognate with Saterland Frisian Booge (“arch, bow, curve”), West Frisian bôge (“arc, arch, bow”), Dutch boog (“arc, arch, bow”), German Bogen (“arc, arch, bow, curve”), Luxembourgish Bou (“arc, arch, bow, curve”), Vilamovian böga (“arc, arch, bend, bow, curve”), Yiddish בויגן (boygn, “arc, arch, bow, curve”), Danish bue (“arc, arch, bow, curve”), Faroese and Icelandic bogi (“arch, bow, vault”), Jamtish buga (“bow”), Norwegian Bokmål bue (“arc, arch, bow”), Norwegian Nynorsk boge (“arc, arch, bow”), Swedish båge (“bow”), Crimean Gothic boga (“bow”).
Meanings
To play music on (a stringed) instrument using a bow.
The musician bowed his violin expertly.
(ergative) To bend or curve, particularly downward.
[…] as when we bow things the contrary way, to make them come to their naturall ſtraitneſſe. 1643, J[ohn] M[ilton], chapter I, in The Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce: […], London: […] T[homas] P[aine] and M[atthew] S[immons] […], →OCLC, page 32:
How long wil ye imagine mischiefe against a man? ye shall be slaine all of you: as a bowing wall shall ye be, and as a tottering fence. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalms 62:3:
The shelf bowed under the weight of the books.
The whole nation […]bowed their necks to the worst kind of tyranny. 1843, William H[ickling] Prescott, History of the Conquest of Mexico, […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), New York, N.Y.: Harper and Brothers, […], →OCLC:
(figuratively, transitive) To exercise powerful or controlling influence over; to bend or incline, figuratively; to humble or subdue.
not to bow and bias their opinions 1655, Thomas Fuller, The Church-history of Britain; […], London: […] Iohn Williams […], →OCLC, (please specify |book=I to XI):
Adversities do more bow men's minds to religion. 1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Atheism”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC:
Know thou the secret of a spirit
Bow’d from its wild pride into shame. 1829, Edgar Allan Poe, “Tamerlane”, in Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane and Minor Poems:
sco boo (to become bent) · mk свиткува (to bend a thing) · ca doblegar (to bend a thing) · hu meghajlik (to become bent) · is sveigja (to bend a thing) · egy k-s-A16 (to become bent) · da stryge (to play music on an instrument using a bow) · gd lùb (to become bent) · it incurvarsi (to become bent) · pt curvar (to bend a thing) · he התכופף (to become bent) · sv böja (to bend a thing) · bg изви́вам (to bend a thing) · ja 弾奏する (to play music on an instrument using a bow) · de beugen (to bend a thing) · sv krokna (to become bent) · fi vääntyä (to become bent) · ca corbar-se (to become bent) · hu elhajlít (to bend a thing) · hu hajlít (to bend a thing) · ja 曲げる (to bend a thing) · de biegen (to bend a thing) · sk ohnúť sa (to become bent) · ca doblegar-se (to become bent) · nl buigen (to become bent) · pt arquear (to bend a thing) · zh 弄彎 /弄弯 (to bend a thing) · hu meghajlít (to bend a thing) · mk се свиткува (to become bent) · sv böjas (to become bent) · chr ᎠᏗᏍᏚᏍᎦ (to become bent) · pl zgiąć (to bend a thing) · ja 弾く (to play music on an instrument using a bow) · bg сви́вам (to bend a thing) · fi taivuttaa (to bend a thing) · hu hajlik (to become bent) · de verbiegen (to bend a thing) · zh 彎曲 /弯曲 (to become bent) · it curvare (to bend a thing) · fr courber (to become bent) · ar اِنْحَنَى (to become bent) · bg изви́вам се (to become bent) · pl wygiąć się (to become bent) · qu k'umuy (to become bent) · is svigna (to become bent) · de sich verbiegen (to become bent) · de streichen (to play music on an instrument using a bow) · cs ohnout (to bend a thing) · fy bûge (to become bent) · is bugast (to become bent) · it incurvare (to bend a thing) · ko 구부리다 (to bend a thing) · fi taipua (to become bent) · gd crom (to become bent) · it curvarsi (to become bent) · fa خم کردن (to bend a thing) · fi soittaa (to play music on an instrument using a bow) · da bøje (to bend a thing) · fr fléchir (to become bent) · pt arquear (to become bent) · fa خماندن (to bend a thing) · is bogna (to become bent) · he כופף (to bend a thing) · nl buigen (to bend a thing) · de sich biegen (to become bent) · ca blincar-se (to become bent) · ru гнуть (to bend a thing) · el λυγίζω (to become bent) · cs ohnout se (to become bent) · sco boo (to bend a thing) · it piegare (to bend a thing) · sv kröka (to bend a thing) · pl prowadzić smyczek (to play music on an instrument using a bow) · fi kaartua (to become bent) · fr courber (to bend a thing) · cy bwa (to bend a thing) · crh qambıraymaq (to become bent) · zh 用弓拉曲 (to play music on an instrument using a bow) · sv bågna (to become bent) · el κυρτώνω (to become bent) · bg изви́я се (to become bent) · ru гну́ться (to become bent) · gd crom (to bend a thing) · fi vääntää (to bend a thing) · sv kröka (to become bent) · ca vinclar-se (to become bent) · fa خمیدن (to become bent) · bg сви́я (to bend a thing) · it piegarsi (to become bent) · hu behajlít (to bend a thing) · pt tocar (com arco) (to play music on an instrument using a bow) · bg изви́я (to bend a thing) · gv croym (to become bent) · pt curvar (to become bent) · eo kliniĝi (to become bent) · is beygja (to bend a thing) · fy bûge (to bend a thing) · fy in bûging meitsjen (to become bent) · mk гуди (to play music on an instrument using a bow) · nl strijken (to play music on an instrument using a bow) · is strjúka (to play music on an instrument using a bow) · ca corbar (to bend a thing) · gd lùb (to bend a thing) · da bue (to become bent) · sv böja (to become bent) · el λυγίζω (to bend a thing)
es mocha (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · cs poklona (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · es reverencia (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · gl reverencia (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · gv croymmey (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · pt reverência (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · zh 鞠躬 (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · ja 辞儀 (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · sk poklona (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · es agobio (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · ar اِلْتِوَاءَة (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · th การคำนับ (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · gd ùmhlachd (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · ko 절 (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · sa नमस् (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · cy ymgrymiad (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · sco boo (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · sh náklon (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · sv bockning (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · fa کرنش (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · mk поклон (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · uk поклі́н (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · be укло́н (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · ru покло́н (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · fr révérence (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · ast reverencia (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · nl buiging (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · pt vénia (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · he קידה (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · es quiebro (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · pl ukłon (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · fi kumarrus (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · myv сюконявкс (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · be пакло́н (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · uk уклі́н (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · fa نماز (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · de Verbeugung (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · lv paklanīšanās (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · es prosternación (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · es caravana (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · mt inkin (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · ja お辞儀 (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · ca inclinació (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · sh на́клон (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · it inchino (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · hu meghajlás (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · eo klino (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · ca reverència (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · pl pokłon (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · is hneiging (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · fa تعظیم (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · es inclinación (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · ar اِنْحِنَاءَة (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · bg покло́н (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · th การโค้ง (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · sv bugning (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · da buk (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · sl poklon (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · gv lhoobey (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · el υπόκλιση (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · ml കുനിയുക (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · gv imlaght (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · es zalema (gesture made by bending forward at the waist) · hi नमन (gesture made by bending forward at the waist)
From Middle English bowen, buwen, buȝen, from Old English būgan, from Proto-West Germanic *beugan, from Proto-Germanic *beuganą, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰewgʰ- (“to bend”).
Cognates
Cognate with Scots boo, bou (“to bend, bow”), Dutch buigen (“to bow”), German biegen (“to bow”), Low German bugen (“to bow”), Luxembourgish béien (“to bow”), Danish bue (“to curve, arch”), Swedish buga (“to bow”), Gothic 𐌱𐌹𐌿𐌲𐌰𐌽 (biugan, “to bend, bow”).
Meanings
(intransitive) To bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference.
I told him about everything I could think of; and what I couldn't think of he did. He asked about six questions during my yarn, but every question had a point to it. At the end he bowed and thanked me once more. As a thanker he was main-truck high; I never see anybody so polite. 1913, Joseph C[rosby] Lincoln, chapter IV, in Mr. Pratt’s Patients, New York, N.Y.; London: D[aniel] Appleton and Company, →OCLC:
The soldier now blew upon a green whistle, and at once a young girl, dressed in a pretty green silk gown, entered the room. She had lovely green hair and green eyes, and she bowed low before Dorothy as she said, "Follow me and I will show you your room." 1900 May 17, L[yman] Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, Chicago, Ill.; New York, N.Y.: Geo[rge] M[elvin] Hill Co., →OCLC:
That singer always bows towards her audience for some reason.
(intransitive, transitive) To debut.
SCP recently announced that How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical will bow on the newly renovated stage next December. 2010 (publication date), Kara Krekeler, "Rebuilding the opera house", West End Word, volume 39, number 26, December 22, 2010 – January 11, 2011, page 1
The show bowed in the first week of December, 1951. Dinah was ready, and so were the technicians who put on her makeup […] 1979, Bruce Cassiday, Dinah!: A Biography, page 115:
(intransitive) To defer (to something).
I bow to your better judgement in the matter.
(transitive) To give a direction, indication, or command to by bowing.
“This way, monsieur,” he said, and led the way up the broad, marble staircase. In another moment he had opened a door, and, drawing aside a heavy curtain, obsequiously bowed Tarzan into a dimly lighted apartment. Then Jacques vanished. 1913 June–December, Edgar Rice Burroughs, “The Plot That Failed”, in The Return of Tarzan, New York, N.Y.: A[lbert] L[evi] Burt Company, […], published March 1915, →OCLC, page 63:
He saw himself, in a smart suit and a songkok, bowed into the opulent suites of Ritzes and Waldorfs and baring, under dark glasses, a hairy chest to a milder sun by a snakeless sea. 1958, Anthony Burgess, The Enemy in the Blanket (The Malayan Trilogy), published 1972, page 302:
Poirot rose gallantly, bowed her into the seat opposite him. 1934, Agatha Christie, chapter 7, in Murder on the Orient Express, London: HarperCollins, published 2017, page 124:
de sich verbeugen (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · pt inclinar-se (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · de eine Verbeugung machen (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · es debruzarse (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · es agobiarse (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · zh 鞠躬 (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · es inclinarse (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · zh 哈腰 (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · ota اكمك (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · ru поклони́ться (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · de sich verneigen (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · ca vinclar (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · pl pokłonić się (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · da bukke (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · cs klanět se (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · sl klanjati se (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · rup mi-ncljin (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · oc far l'abaissada (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · sh кла̏њати се (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · sk ukláňať sa (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · fi kumartua (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · mk се поклонува (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · nl zich buigen (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · sk ukloniť sa (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · cy ymgrymu (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · pl kłaniać się (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · ar اِنْحَنَى لِلتَّحِيَّة (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · es prosternarse (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · ar رَكَعَ (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · be кла́няцца (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · fr faire une révérence (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · es enarcarse (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · ia inclinar se (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · sv buga (sig) (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · got 𐌰𐌽𐌰𐌷𐌽𐌴𐌹𐍅𐌰𐌽 (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · th โค้ง (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · ca blincar (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · uk кла́нятися (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · sv bocka (sig) (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · sl prikloniti se (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · cs uklonit se (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · uk вклони́тися (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · it chinarsi (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · ru кла́няться (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · fr s'incliner (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · pt curvar-se (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · ca doblegar (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · sa नमति (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · ja 辞儀する (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · fi kumartaa (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · th คำนับ (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · mk се клања (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · gl agochar (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · es debruzar (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · sk pokloniť sa (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · eo riverenci (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · fur pleâsi (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · ko 절하다 (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · ca corbar (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · gv croym (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · oc s'inclinar (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · oc se doblar (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · ko 절을 하다 (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · lv paklanīties (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · ar اِنْحَنَى (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · ro a se apleca (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · zh 躬 (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · el υποκλίνομαι (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · ang būgan (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · oc se corbar (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · vi cúi chào (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · bg покла́ням се (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · be паклані́цца (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · sk klaňať sa (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · sh klȁnjati se (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · bg поклоня́ се (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · is hneigja sig (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · sco boo (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · ro a se închina (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · da bøje sig (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · uk поклони́тися (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · nl een buiging maken (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · hu meghajol (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · es arquearse (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · it inchinarsi (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · eo kliniĝi (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · ang hnīgan (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · tyv мөгейип мендилежир (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · sq përul (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · pl skłonić się (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · hy խոնարհվել (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · lkt pathúžA (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · ja お辞儀する (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · vi cúi (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · he קד (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference) · izh kummartaa (to bend oneself as a gesture of respect or deference)
PIE word
*bʰeh₂ǵʰús
From Middle English bowe, bowgh, a borrowing from Middle Low German bôch and/or Middle Dutch boech, from Proto-Germanic *bōguz, from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeh₂ǵʰus (“arm”). Doublet of bough.
Cognates
Cognate with Dutch boeg (“bow”), German Bug (“bow, prow (of a ship); shoulder joint (of an animal)”), Luxembourgish Buch, Bou (“shoulder joint (of an animal)”), Danish bov (“bow”), Icelandic bógur (“bow”), Norwegian Bokmål baug (“bow”), Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk and Swedish bog (“bow; shoulder (of an animal)”).
Meanings
The front of a boat or ship.
Holonyms: watercraft < vessel
The night was considerably clearer than anybody on board her desired when the schooner Ventura headed for the land. It rose in places, black and sharp against the velvety indigo, over her dipping bow, though most of the low littoral was wrapped in obscurity. 1907 January, Harold Bindloss, chapter 6, in The Dust of Conflict, 1st Canadian edition, Toronto, Ont.: McLeod & Allen, →OCLC:
Meronyms: beak, beak, beakhead
The rower that sits in the seat closest to the bow of the boat.
gv kione toshee (front of a boat or ship) · sk prova (front of a boat or ship) · gl proa (front of a boat or ship) · ist prùa (front of a boat or ship) · fy boech (front of a boat or ship) · el πρώρα (front of a boat or ship) · da bov (front of a boat or ship) · cy pen blaen (front of a boat or ship) · he לְחִי הַחַרְטוֹם (front of a boat or ship) · io pruo (front of a boat or ship) · nl boeg (front of a boat or ship) · fr proue (front of a boat or ship) · et vöör (front of a boat or ship) · tl duong (front of a boat or ship) · tr pruva (front of a boat or ship) · sh prámac (front of a boat or ship) · gv toshiaght (front of a boat or ship) · la rostrum (front of a boat or ship) · sw gubeti (front of a boat or ship) · ko 이물 (front of a boat or ship) · es proa (front of a boat or ship) · ms haluan (front of a boat or ship) · eo ŝipbeko (front of a boat or ship) · tl proa (front of a boat or ship) · mi puneke (front of a boat or ship) · zh 船首 (front of a boat or ship) · uk ніс (front of a boat or ship) · is stefni (front of a boat or ship) · ca prora (front of a boat or ship) · sco bou (front of a boat or ship) · eu branka (front of a boat or ship) · sq bash (front of a boat or ship) · lkt walpȟá (front of a boat or ship) · pt proa (front of a boat or ship) · cy blaen (front of a boat or ship) · sv för (front of a boat or ship) · ga tosach (front of a boat or ship) · ga srón (front of a boat or ship) · sh пра́мац (front of a boat or ship) · it prua (front of a boat or ship) · ga ceann (front of a boat or ship) · tl doong (front of a boat or ship) · lv priekšgals (front of a boat or ship) · mi tauihu (front of a boat or ship) · af boeg (front of a boat or ship) · gv boogh (front of a boat or ship) · ja 船首 (front of a boat or ship) · vec pròda (front of a boat or ship) · pl dziób (front of a boat or ship) · is bógur (front of a boat or ship) · bg нос (front of a boat or ship) · fi keula (front of a boat or ship) · be нос (front of a boat or ship) · zh 船頭 /船头 (front of a boat or ship) · mi punake (front of a boat or ship) · myv венчбря (front of a boat or ship) · ja 舳先 (front of a boat or ship) · hu hajóorr (front of a boat or ship) · et käil (front of a boat or ship) · gv gob (front of a boat or ship) · ko 선수 (front of a boat or ship) · de Bug (front of a boat or ship) · ar قَيْدُوم (front of a boat or ship) · el πλώρη (front of a boat or ship) · sv stäv (front of a boat or ship) · sw omo (front of a boat or ship) · eo pruo (front of a boat or ship) · fo bógvur (front of a boat or ship) · nrf avant (front of a boat or ship) · nb baug (front of a boat or ship) · pdt Bug (front of a boat or ship) · fa سینِه (front of a boat or ship) · nn baug (front of a boat or ship) · grc πρώρα (front of a boat or ship) · ru нос (front of a boat or ship) · sl premec (front of a boat or ship) · cy trwyn (front of a boat or ship) · mi ihu (front of a boat or ship) · id haluan (front of a boat or ship) · nci ācalyacatl (front of a boat or ship) · ca proa (front of a boat or ship) · sv bog (front of a boat or ship) · fi kokka (front of a boat or ship) · cs příď (front of a boat or ship) · izh esinukka (front of a boat or ship) · ga gob (front of a boat or ship) · vec pròva (front of a boat or ship) · sk čelo (front of a boat or ship) · gd toiseach (front of a boat or ship) · it prora (front of a boat or ship)
Where the Bee ſucks, there ſuck I, / In a Cowſlips bell, I lie, / There I cowch when Owles doe crie, / On the Batts backe I doe flie / after Sommer merrily. / Merrily, merrily, ſhall I liue now / Vnder the bloſſom that hangs on the Bow. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tempest”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i], page 17, column 1:
[Y]ou are to faſten that line to any bow neer to a hole where a Pike is, or is likely to lye, or to have a haunt, […] 1653, Iz[aak] Wa[lton], chapter VII, in The Compleat Angler or The Contemplative Man’s Recreation. Being a Discourse of Fish and Fishing, […], London: […] T. Maxey for Rich[ard] Marriot, […], →OCLC; reprinted as The Compleat Angler (Homo Ludens; 6), Nieuwkoop, South Holland, Netherlands: Miland Publishers, 1969, →ISBN, page 154:
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
bows
Number=Plur
lexicographic
bow en · NOUN · etymology 5
Etymology
Borrowed from Mandarin 包 (bāo) or Cantonese 包 (baau1).
Meanings
(alt-of, alternative) Alternative form of bao; any of several Chinese buns and breads