prow

1 of 2

adjective

archaic

prow

2 of 2

noun

ˈprau̇ How to pronounce prow (audio)
 archaic  ˈprō
1
: the bow of a ship : stem
2
: a pointed projecting front part

Examples of prow in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The yacht features a sculpture of Sánchez on the prow that includes the symbol for Koru, which symbolizes new beginnings and positive change in a new phase of life. Alexia Fernández, Peoplemag, 6 Mar. 2024 Koru, the massive boat owned by Bezos, is home to a wooden sculpture that has been said to resemble Sánchez on the prow. Abigail Adams, Peoplemag, 13 Nov. 2023 With a straight prow, stolid cabin top, broad aft deck and crow’s nest, the boat, the Western Flyer, is a throwback to the last century — more reminiscent of a child’s toy bobbing in a bathtub’s choppy water than anything taking to the seas today. Thomas Curwen, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2023 The Flatiron Building, whose prow has nosed up Broadway across 23rd Street since its completion in 1902, has housed its last office tenant and is going residential, The Real Deal first reported this morning. Curbed, 26 Oct. 2023 My room, modeled on a Parisian atelier, featured the prow of an early-20th-century boat jutting from one wall. Gary Shteyngart, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Aug. 2023 Whenever the beach goes underwater and the waves move in, this corner building looks like the prow of a ship lost at sea. Rosanna Xia, Los Angeles Times, 22 Aug. 2023 Aircraft carriers, and most other ships, also have sharp prows, the front part of a ship above the waterline. Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 14 Aug. 2023 The post tells a story in two pictures: the first shows a sharply curved aircraft carrier prow that narrows to a knifelike point, which to some implies the entire bottom of the ship is knifelike. Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 14 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'prow.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Anglo-French pru, prou — more at proud

Noun

Middle French proue, probably from Old Italian dialect prua, from Latin prora, from Greek prōira

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of prow was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near prow

Cite this Entry

“Prow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prow. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

prow

noun
ˈprau̇
: the bow of a ship

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