See Also: kowtow(dictionary)
kowtow(dictionary)

kowtow (iou)



kowtow noun & verb. . E19.
[Chinese ketou (Wade-Giles k'ot'ou), from ke knock, strike + tou head.]
A. noun. The action or practice, formerly customary in China, of touching the ground with the forehead as a sign of extreme respect, submission, or worship; fig. an act of obsequious respect. E19.
b. verb intrans. Perform the kowtow; fig. act in an obsequious manner. M19.
S. Conran She couldn't stand the way that Robert kowtowed to her father.
kowtower noun M20.