- Bow instrument
- Bow Bow (b[=o]), n. [OE. bowe, boge, AS. boga, fr. AS.
b[=u]gan to bend; akin to D. boog, G. bogen, Icel. bogi. See
{Bow}, v. t.]
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1. Anything bent, or in the form of a curve, as the rainbow.
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I do set my bow in the cloud. --Gen. ix. 13. [1913 Webster]
2. A weapon made of a strip of wood, or other elastic material, with a cord connecting the two ends, by means of which an arrow is propelled. [1913 Webster]
3. An ornamental knot, with projecting loops, formed by doubling a ribbon or string. [1913 Webster]
4. The U-shaped piece which embraces the neck of an ox and fastens it to the yoke. [1913 Webster]
5. (Mus.) An appliance consisting of an elastic rod, with a number of horse hairs stretched from end to end of it, used in playing on a stringed instrument. [1913 Webster]
6. An arcograph. [1913 Webster]
7. (Mech. & Manuf.) Any instrument consisting of an elastic rod, with ends connected by a string, employed for giving reciprocating motion to a drill, or for preparing and arranging the hair, fur, etc., used by hatters. [1913 Webster]
8. (Naut.) A rude sort of quadrant formerly used for taking the sun's altitude at sea. [1913 Webster]
9. (Saddlery) sing. or pl. Two pieces of wood which form the arched forward part of a saddletree. [1913 Webster]
{Bow bearer} (O. Eng. Law), an under officer of the forest who looked after trespassers.
{Bow drill}, a drill worked by a bow and string.
{Bow instrument} (Mus.), any stringed instrument from which the tones are produced by the bow.
{Bow window} (Arch.) See {Bay window}.
{To draw a long bow}, to lie; to exaggerate. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.