Kowtow

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ËŒkaʊˈtaÊŠ/
• Rhymes: -aÊŠ

Alternative forms

• kotow

Origin

From Cantonese 叩頭
叩头 (kau3 tau4) kau3 ‘knock’ + tau4 ‘head’; Chinese Mandarin 叩頭
叩头 (kòutóu) kòu ‘knock’ + tóu ‘head’.

Full definition of kowtow

Verb

1. (intransitive) To kneel and bow low enough to touch one’s forehead to the ground.
2. (intransitive) To bow very deeply.
3. (intransitive, figuratively) To act in a very submissive manner.

Noun

1. The act of kowtowing.