[f. BOW v.1 + -ING2.]
1. That bends or inclines; inclined, bent (obs.).
c. 1440. Gesta Rom., xlviii. 216. With bowinge knees þey worshipid him.
c. 1470. Henry, Wallace, III. 215. On bowand treis [thai] hangit thaim rycht thar.
1674. N. Fairfax, Bulk & Selv., 68. The nearer the eye comes to a great thing that is bowing, the less bowing it seems.
1728. Young, Love Fame, IV. (ed. 11), 27 (R.).
| His Character, and Goves are ever clean, | |
| And then he can outbow the bowing Dean. |
b. fig. Yielding, submissive, obedient.
a. 1340. Richard Rolle of Hampole, Prick of Conscience, 7987. Alle thing tylle þam salle be boghand.
c. 1400. Destr. Troy, 901. [Þe orible oxin] … as bowande to þe bowes as any bestes might.
1844. Kinglake, Eöthen, xxv. 325. The readily-bowing mind of the oriental.
† 2. That may be bent; flexible, pliant. Obs.
1483. Caxton, Gold. Leg., 331/2. His fyngers and his toes … were bowyng and hoole as they hadde be newely buryed.
1551. Turner, Herbal, F v b. To make hoopis of, and twygges for baskets it is so bowing.
1570. Levins, Manip., 136. Bowing, lentus, flexilis.
