kow ‧ tow /ˌkaʊˈtaʊ/ BrE AmE verb [intransitive] informal
[ Date: 1800-1900 ; Language: Chinese ; Origin: ke tou 'to hit your head' ; because when you bow very low you hit your head on the floor ]
to be too eager to obey or be polite to someone in authority
kowtow to
We will not kowtow to the government.