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kow·tow

(kou-tou, koutou′)

intr.v. kow·towed, kow·tow·ing, kow·tows

1. To kneel and touch the forehead to the ground in expression of deep respect, worship, or submission, as formerly done in China.

2. To show servile deference. See Synonyms at fawn¹.

1. The act of kneeling and touching the forehead to the ground.

2. An obsequious act.

[From Mandarin kòu tóu, a kowtow, from Middle Chinese k^həw` tɦəw : k^həw`, to strike, knock + tɦəw, head.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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