KOTOW

kowtow, kotow

(noun) a former Chinese custom of touching the ground with the forehead as a sign of respect or submission

fawn, toady, truckle, bootlick, kowtow, kotow, suck up

(verb) try to gain favor by cringing or flattering; “He is always kowtowing to his boss”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Noun

kotow (plural kotows)

Alternative spelling of kowtow

Verb

kotow (third-person singular simple present kotows, present participle kotowing, simple past and past participle kotowed)

Alternative spelling of kowtow

Source: Wiktionary


Ko*tow", n. Etym: [Chinese, knock head.]

Definition: The prostration made by mandarins and others to their superiors, either as homage or worship, by knocking the forehead on the ground. There are degrees in the rite, the highest being expressed by three knockings. [China]kowtow S. W. Williams.

Ko*tow", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Kotowed; p. pr. & vb. n. Kotowing.]

Definition: To perform the kotow.kowtow

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

27 May 2025

DIRECTIONALITY

(noun) the property of being directional or maintaining a direction; “the directionality of written English is from left to right”


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