I. noun
or ko·tow (ˈ)kau̇|tau̇ sometimes kōˈtau̇
( -s )
Etymology: Chinese (Pekingese) k'o 1 t'ou 2 , from k'o 1 to strike, bump + t'ou 2 head
: an act of kowtowing
II. intransitive verb
or kotow “
( -ed/-ing/-s )
1. : to kneel and touch the forehead to the ground (as in old Chinese custom) in token of homage, worship, or deep respect
everyone should kowtow to the abbot, even the chief, but no one receives the abbot's kowtow — Ju-K'ang T'ien
2. : to show obsequious deference : fawn
you'll never find a Swiss kowtowing or bootlicking — T.H.Fielding
a brilliant scholar … kowtowed to the regime and became an empty, self-hating shell of a man — Time