BOW (4)

Bow (bō), n. [[OE. bowe, boge, AS. boga, fr. AS. būgan to bend; akin to D. boog, G. bogen, Icel. bogi. See Bow, v. t.]] 1. 1. Anything bent, or in the form of a curve, as the rainbow.
I do set my bow in the cloud. Gen. ix. 13. 2. 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.
3. 3. An ornamental knot, with projecting loops, formed by doubling a ribbon or string.
4. 4. The U-shaped piece which embraces the neck of an ox and fastens it to the yoke.
5. 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.
6. 6. An arcograph.
7. 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.
8. 8. (Naut.) A rude sort of quadrant formerly used for taking the sun's altitude at sea.
9. 9. (Saddlery) sing. or pl. Two pieces of wood which form the arched forward part of a saddletree.
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.