kowtow

kowtow
kowtow (n.) also kow-tow, 1804, from Chinese k'o-t'ou custom of touching the ground with the forehead to show respect or submission, lit. "knock the head," from k'o "knock, bump" + t'ou "head." The verb in the figurative sense of "act in an obsequious manner" is from 1826. Related: Kowtowed; kowtowing.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Kowtow — Студийный альбом Pendragon …   Википедия

  • Kowtow — Kow*tow , n. [Chinese, knock head.] The prostration made by mandarins and others to their superiors, either as homage or worship, by knocking the forehead on the ground; same as {Kotow}. There are degrees in the rite, the highest being expressed… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • kowtow — Kow*tow , n. [Chinese, knock head.] The prostration made by mandarins and others to their superiors, either as homage or worship, by knocking the forehead on the ground; same as {Kotow}. There are degrees in the rite, the highest being expressed… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Kowtow — Kow*tow , v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Kowtowed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Kowtowing}.] To perform the kowtow. Same as {Kotow} [1913 Webster] I have salaamed and kowtowed to him. H. James. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • kowtow — [kou′tou΄] n. [Chin k o t ou, lit., bump head] the act of kneeling and touching the ground with the forehead to show great deference, submissive respect, homage, etc., as formerly in China vi. 1. to perform a kowtow 2. to show servile respect… …   English World dictionary

  • kowtow — meaning ‘to act obsequiously’, is pronounced with each syllable to rhyme with cow, and is no longer spelt ko tow …   Modern English usage

  • kowtow — [v] grovel bow, brownnose*, cave in*, court, cower, cringe, fawn, flatter, fold, genuflect, give in, go along with, kneel, knuckle under, lie down and roll over*, pander, prostrate, say uncle*, stoop, toe the mark*; concept 384 …   New thesaurus

  • kowtow — ► VERB 1) historical kneel and touch the ground with the forehead in submission as part of Chinese custom. 2) be excessively subservient towards someone. ORIGIN Chinese …   English terms dictionary

  • Kowtow — For similar gestures in other cultures, see Prostration. Kotou redirects here. For the village in Burkina Faso, see Kotou, Burkina Faso. Kowtow Kowtowing in a court Chinese name …   Wikipedia

  • Kowtow — Sujet faisant kowtow devant une cour de justice Sujets f …   Wikipédia en Français

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