Definition of bow2

The word "bow" has a rich history dating back to Old English. The verb "bow" originally meant "to bend or curve the body" and was used in phrases such as "to bow one's head" or "to bow one's knees." This early meaning is still seen in words like "bowstring" and "bowler hat." In the 14th century, the word "bow" began to be used to describe the act of bending in greeting, as in "to bow down" or "to bow to someone." This sense of the word evolved from the Old English word "gebowian," which meant "to bend" or "to stoop." The noun form "bow" to refer to a ribbon tied around a package or a deer's hind leg comes from the Middle English word "boughe," which was derived from the Old French word "bue," meaning "to bend" or "to curve."