bowing

verb

1. (form-of, gerund, participle, present)present participle and gerund of bow (all senses)

noun

1. (countable, uncountable)The act of bending at the waist, as a sign of respect or greeting.

   “The courtier had practiced his bowing.”

   “But it is not in the appearance of the fields, or of the cities, nor in the cuſtoms or genius of the inhabitants, that the country where you reſide has the great advantage over this land of darkneſs, but in the important article of religion; which here conſiſts almoſt entirely of external ſhow and gewgawry, of bowings, courteſies, and various geſticulations, of fantaſtical dreſſes, proceſſions, and other idle ceremonials, […]”

2. (countable, uncountable)A bending.

   “The heavy books caused a bowing in the shelf.”

3. (countable, uncountable)A technique for using the bow on a string instrument such as a violin.

   “The bowing arm, the fingers on the strings, and then the violin itself polished brown, and the soloist's chin pillowed on it.”