n. Naut. 1 (often in pl.) the fore-end of a boat or a ship. 2 = BOWMAN(2). bow wave a wave set up at the bows of a moving ship or in front of a body moving in air. on the bow within 45ø of the point directly ahead. shot across the bows a warning.
[ LG boog, Du. boeg, ship's bow, orig. shoulder: see BOUGH ]