bow – a long wooden stick with horse hair that is used to play certain string instruments such as the violin bow – to bend forward at the waist in respect (e.g. "bow down") bow – the front of the ship (e.g. "bow and stern") bow – the weapon which shoots arrows (e.g. "bow and arrow") bow – a kind of tied ribbon (e.g. bow on a present, a bowtie) bow – to bend outward at the sides (e.g. a "bow-legged" cowboy) bough – a branch on a tree. (e.g. "when the bough breaks...") bō – a long staff, usually made of tapered hard wood or bamboo beau – a male paramour