# kowtow

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈkaʊˌtaʊ/ · frequency rank #78,761

## Definitions
1. To kneel and bow low enough to touch one’s forehead to the ground.
2. To grovel, act in a very submissive manner; to show obeisance to (someone or something) in such a manner; to bow.
3. To bow very deeply.

## Etymology
From either Cantonese 叩頭 /叩头 (kau³ tau⁴) or Mandarin 叩頭 /叩头 (kòutóu). Literally, “knock head”.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/kowtow