| bow | 1. To cause to deviate from straightness; to bend; to inflect; to make crooked or curved. "We bow things the contrary way, to make them come to their natural straightness." (Milton) "The whole nation bowed their necks to the worst kind of tyranny." (Prescott) 2. To exercise powerful or controlling influence over; to bend, figuratively; to turn; to incline. "Adversities do more bow men's minds to religion." (Bacon) "Not to bow and bias their opinions." (Fuller) 3. To bend or incline, as the head or body, in token of respect, gratitude, assent, homage, or condescension. "They came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him." (2 Kings II. 15) 4. To cause to bend down; to prostrate; to depress,; to crush; to subdue. "Whose heavy hand hath bowed you to the grave." (Shak) 5. To express by bowing; as, to bow one's thanks. Origin: OE. Bowen, bogen, bugen, AS. Bugan (generally v.i); akin to D. Buigen, OHG. Biogan, G. Biegen, beugen, Icel. Boginn bent, beygja to bend, Sw. Boja, Dan. Boie, bugne, Coth. Biugan; also to L. Fugere to flee, Gr, and Skr. Bhuj to bend. Cf. Fugitive. 1. Anything bent, or in the form of a curve, as the rainbow. "I do set my bow in the cloud." (Gen. Ix. 13) 2. A weapon made of a strip of wood, or other elastic material, with a cord connecting the two ends, by means of which an arrow is propelled. 3. An ornamental knot, with projecting lops, formed by doubling a ribbon or string. 4. The U-shaped piece which embraces the neck of an ox and fastens it to the yoke. 5. An appliance consisting of an elastic rod, with a number of horse hairs stretched from end to end of it, used in playing on a stringed instrument. 6. An acrograph. 7. <mechanics> Any instrument consisting of an elastic rod, with ends connected by a string, employed for giving reciprocating motion to a drill, or for preparing and arranging the hair, fur, etc, used by hatters. 8. A rude sort of quadrant formerly used for taking the sun's altitude at sea. 9. Two pieces of wood which form the arched forward part of a saddletree. Bow bearer See Bay window. To draw a long bow, to lie; to exaggerate. Origin: OE. Bowe, boge, AS. Boga, fr. AS. Bugan to bend; akin to D. Boog, G. Bogen, Icel. Bogi. See Bow. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| bow-compass | 1. An arcograph. 2. A small pair of compasses, one leg of which carries a pencil, or a pen, for drawing circles. Its legs are often connected by a bow-shaped spring, instead of by a joint. 3. A pair of compasses, with a bow or arched plate riveted to one of the legs, and passing through the other. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| bow-leg | A deformity marked by medial angulation of the leg in relation to the thigh; an outward bowing of the legs. Synonym: bandy-leg, bowleg, bow-leg, tibia vara. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Bowditch | Henry P., U.S. Physiologist, 1840-1911. See: Bowditch's law, Bowditch effect. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Bowditch effect | Homeometric autoregulation of cardiac function induced by changing heart rate. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Bowditch's law | Consistently total response to any effective stimulus. Synonym: all or none law. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bowed tendon | A condition caused by severe strain of the digital flexor tendons, the outer osseus (suspensory ligament), or the accessory ligament (distal cheek ligament) of the horse's limb and characterised by swelling, pain, and lameness; it occurs most frequently in race horses under stress of running. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bowel | A general term that includes the small and large intestine. (27 Sep 1997) |
| bowel bypass | A surgical procedure consisting of the anastomosis of the proximal part of the jejunum to the distal portion of the ileum, so as to bypass the nutrient-absorptive segment of the small intestine, to treat morbid obesity. (12 Dec 1998) |
| bowel bypass syndrome | <syndrome> Fever, chills, malaise, and inflammatory cutaneous papules and pustules on the extremities and upper trunk, sometimes with polyarthralgia, with recurrent symptoms following bowel bypass surgery. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bowel disorders and fibre | High fibre diets help delay the progression of diverticulosis and, at least, reduce the bouts of diverticulitis. In many cases, it helps reduce the symptoms of the Irritable Bowel Syndrome ( IBS ). It is generally accepted that a diet high in fibre is protective, or at least reduces the incidence, of colon polyps and colon cancer. (12 Dec 1998) |
| bowel infections | An infection, viral or bacterial, of the intestines. (27 Sep 1997) |
| bowel movement | Defecation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| bowel obstruction | A blockage of the bowel lumen prohibiting the passage of material. Common symptoms include constipation, abdominal swelling and abdominal pain. Treatment includes intravenous fluids, rest, nasogastric suction and surgery in select cases. (27 Sep 1997) |
| bowel perforation | Complete penetration of the intestinal wall resulting in the potential for bacterial contamination of the abdominal cavity (peritonitis). (27 Sep 1997) |
| hinge-bow | <dentistry, equipment> A wire caliper-like device used to record the relationship of the jaws to the temporomandibular joints. The resulting record can then be used to create a cast or model of the maxilla to the opening and closing axis of the articulator. They consists of two metal parts attached together. The inner part is shaped like a horseshoe and is inserted in the mouth and connects to the buccal tubes. The outer part has two curves which go around the face, and connect to the headgear. An elastic neck band is placed around the back of the neck and attaches to the outer bow of the headgear. Completing the apparatus is a plastic safety strap that is placed over the neck band and onto the outer bow of the headgear. Synonym: hinge-bow, kinematic face-bow. (21 Jun 2000) |
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| face-bow | <dentistry, equipment> A wire caliper-like device used to record the relationship of the jaws to the temporomandibular joints. The resulting record can then be used to create a cast or model of the maxilla to the opening and closing axis of the articulator. They consists of two metal parts attached together. The inner part is shaped like a horseshoe and is inserted in the mouth and connects to the buccal tubes. The outer part has two curves which go around the face, and connect to the headgear. An elastic neck band is placed around the back of the neck and attaches to the outer bow of the headgear. Completing the apparatus is a plastic safety strap that is placed over the neck band and onto the outer bow of the headgear. Synonym: hinge-bow, kinematic face-bow. (21 Jun 2000) |
| face-bow fork | <dentistry> That part of the face-bow assemblage used to attach the maxillary trial base to the face-bow proper. Synonym: bite fork. (05 Mar 2000) |
| face-bow record | <dentistry> A registration utilizing a face-bow of the position of the hinge axis and/or the condyles; the face-bow record is used to orient the maxillary cast to the opening and closing axis of the articulator. (05 Mar 2000) |
| kinematic face-bow | adjustable axis face-bow |