Bow Word Meaning

Old English boga ‘bend, bow, arch’, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch boog and German Bogen, also to bow

a knot tied with two loops and two loose ends, used especially for tying shoelaces and decorative ribbons

simple knot

• a girl with long hair tied back in a bow

a weapon for shooting arrows, typically made of a curved piece of wood joined at both ends by a taut string.

weapon for shooting arrows

a long, partially curved rod with horsehair stretched along its length, used for playing the violin and other stringed instruments.

rod used for playing violin

a curved stroke forming part of a letter (e.g. b, p).

curved part of letter

a metal ring forming the handle of a key or pair of scissors.

curved part of scissors etc.

play (a stringed instrument or music) using a bow

play violin with bow

• the techniques by which the pieces were bowed