bow : Idioms & Phrases

Bluff"-bowed` adjective

Definitions

1. (Naut.) Built with the stem nearly straight up and down.

Webster 1913

• noun a weapon consisting of arrows and the bow to shoot them
  

WordNet

• (O. Eng. Law), an under officer of the forest who looked after trespassers.

Webster 1913

• (Naut.), a gun in the bow for firing while chasing another vessel. -

Webster 1913

• verb get into a prostrate position, as in submission
  prostrate.
  
• verb bend one's knee or body, or lower one's head
  bow.
  
  • He bowed before the King
  • She bowed her head in shame

WordNet

• a drill worked by a bow and string.

Webster 1913

Bow" hand`

Definitions

1. (Archery) The hand that holds the bow, i. e., the left hand.

   Surely he shoots wide on the bow hand. Spenser.

2. (Mus.) The hand that draws the bow, i. e., the right hand.

Webster 1913

• (Mus.), any stringed instrument from which the tones are produced by the bow.

Webster 1913

• noun outward curvature of the legs
  bandy legs; bow leg.
  
• noun a leg bowed outward at the knee (or below the knee)
  bandy leg; bowleg; tibia vara; bandyleg; genu varum; bow leg.
  

WordNet

• noun outward curvature of the legs
  bandy legs; bow leg.
  
• noun a leg bowed outward at the knee (or below the knee)
  bandy leg; bowleg; tibia vara; bandyleg; genu varum; bow leg.
  

WordNet

Bow" net`

Definitions

1. .
2. A trap for lobsters, being a wickerwork cylinder with a funnel-shaped entrance at one end.
3. A net for catching birds. J. H. Walsh.

Webster 1913

Bow" oar`

Definitions

1. .
2. The oar used by the bowman.
3. One who rows at the bow of a boat.

Webster 1913

• verb remove oneself from an obligation
  back down; back off; pull out; chicken out.
  
  • He bowed out when he heard how much work was involved
• verb retire gracefully
  withdraw.
  
  • He bowed out when he realized he could no longer handle the demands of the chairmanship

WordNet

• a piece of ordnance carried at the bow of a ship.

Webster 1913

• noun a man's tie that ties in a bow
  bow tie; bowtie.
  

WordNet

• noun a window that sticks out from the outside wall of a house
  bay window.
  

WordNet

• (Arch.) See Bay window.

Webster 1913

• noun small shrubby deciduous yellowwood tree of south central United States having spines, glossy dark green leaves and an inedible fruit that resembles an orange; its hard orange-colored wood used for bows by Native Americans; frequently planted as boundary hedge
  mock orange; Maclura pomifera; osage orange.
  

WordNet

Bow"-bells` noun plural

Definitions

1. The bells of Bow Church in London; cockneydom.

   People born within the sound of Bow-bells are usually called cockneys. Murray's Handbook of London.

Webster 1913

Bow"-com`pass noun

Wordforms

plural Bow-compasses

Definitions

1. An arcograph.
2. A small pair of compasses, one leg of which carries a pencil, or a pen, for drawing circles. Its legs are often connected by a bow-shaped spring, instead of by a joint.
3. A pair of compasses, with a bow or arched plate riveted to one of the legs, and passing through the other.

Webster 1913

Bow"-pen` noun

Definitions

1. Bow-compasses carrying a drawing pen. See Bow-compass.

Webster 1913

Bow"-pen`cil noun

Definitions

1. Bow-compasses, one leg of which carries a pencil.

Webster 1913

Bow"-saw` noun

Definitions

1. A saw with a thin or narrow blade set in a strong frame.

Webster 1913

• noun a man's tie that ties in a bow
  bow tie; bowtie.
  

WordNet

• noun the bark of a dog
  
• noun informal terms for dogs
  doggie; pooch; doggy; barker.
  

WordNet

• adjective satellite heavily burdened with work or cares
  loaded down; weighed down; overburdened.
  
  • bowed down with troubles
  • found himself loaded down with responsibilities
  • overburdened social workers
  • weighed down with cares

WordNet

• noun stringed instruments that are played with a bow
  string.
  
  • the strings played superlatively well

WordNet

• noun the double curve of the upper lip when considered to resemble Cupid's bow
  
• noun a curved bow with reversed curve ends
  

WordNet

• noun a downward stroke from the heel to the tip of the bow
  

WordNet

• a small bow used for the purpose of rapidly turning a drill around which the bowstring takes a turn.

Webster 1913

• fiddlestick.

Webster 1913

• the pommel of a saddle. Knight.

Webster 1913

• a similar bow seen in the spray of waves at sea.

Webster 1913

• noun a small lyre-shaped musical instrument that is placed between the teeth and played by twanging a wire tongue while changing the shape of the mouth cavity
  jews' harp; jew's harp.
  

WordNet

• (Naut.), on that part of the horizon within 45° on either side of the line ahead. Totten.

Webster 1913

Sea" bow`

Definitions

1. See Marine rainbow, under Rainbow.

Webster 1913

• noun contact (the part of a bell) against which the clapper strikes
  

WordNet

• in a series of transverse sections of a bell, that segment against which the clapper strikes, being the part which is most efficacious in producing the sound. See Illust. of Bell.

Webster 1913

• noun bowing in such a way that the bow bounces lightly off the strings
  spiccato.
  

WordNet

• verb acknowledge praise or accept credit
  
  • They finally took a bow for what they did
• verb acknowledge applause by inclining the head, as of an artist after a performance
  

WordNet

• to bend the bow by drawing the string for discharging the arrow.

Webster 1913

• to lie; to exaggerate. Colloq.

Webster 1913

• to have a means or expedient in reserve in case the one employed fails.

Webster 1913

• noun an upward stroke from the tip to the heel of the bow
  

WordNet

• noun a bow used in playing the violin
  fiddlestick.
  

WordNet