n. & v.
n. 1 a a slip-knot with a double loop. b a ribbon, shoelace, etc., tied with this. c a decoration (on clothing, or painted etc.) in the form of a bow. 2 a device for shooting arrows with a taut string joining the ends of a curved piece of wood etc. 3 a a rod with horsehair stretched along its length, used for playing the violin, cello, etc. b a single stroke of a bow over strings. 4 a a shallow curve or bend. b a rainbow. 5 = saddle-bow. 6 a metal ring forming the handle of scissors, a key, etc. 7 US the side-piece of a spectacle-frame. 8 Archery = BOWMAN(1).
v.tr. (also absol.) use a bow on (a violin etc.) (he bowed vigorously). bow-compass (or -compasses) compasses with jointed legs. bow-legged having bandy legs. bow-legs bandy legs. bow-saw Carpentry a narrow saw stretched like a bowstring on a light frame. bow-tie a necktie in the form of a bow (sense 1). bow-window a curved bay window. two strings to one's bow a twofold resource.
[ OE boga f. Gmc: cf. BOW(2) ]