Kowtow Definition
kou-tou, koutou
kowtowed, kowtowing, kowtows
verb
kowtowed, kowtowing, kowtows
To perform a kowtow.
Webster's New World
To kneel and touch the forehead to the ground in expression of deep respect, worship, or submission, as formerly done in China.
American Heritage
To show servile respect (to)
Webster's New World
(intransitive) To bow very deeply.
Wiktionary
noun
kowtows
The act of kneeling and touching the ground with the forehead to show great deference, submissive respect, homage, etc., as formerly in China.
Webster's New World
An obsequious act.
American Heritage
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Other Word Forms of Kowtow
Noun
Singular:
kowtow
Plural:
kowtowsOrigin of Kowtow
-
From Cantonese 叩頭 / 叩头 (kau3 tau4) kau3 ‘knock’ + tau4 ‘head’; Chinese Mandarin 叩頭 / 叩头 (kòutóu) kòu ‘knock’ + tóu ‘head’.
From Wiktionary
From Mandarin kòu tóu a kowtow from Middle Chinese khəw` tfiəw khəw` to strike, knock tfiəw head
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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