BOW

in music, curved stick with rosined horsehair stretched between the ends, used to produce sound by friction in stringed instruments of the rebec, viol, and violin groups. Since the 16th century the tension of the hair has been controlled by means of a frog (nut) at the end of the bow held by the player. In non-European bows, in folk bows, and in European bows before the late 18th century, the stick curves away from the hair. In the modern western bow, established by Franois Tourte of France (17471835), the curve is toward the hair.