Meanings
plural bow guards
- alternativeAlternative form of bowguard.
She tugged the cloth napkin off the bow guard, sitting on the table.
2011, Michelle L. Levigne, The Rift War, →ISBN3 more examples
The bow guard— called ketoh by the Navajo— is worn around the wrist while shooting with a bow and arrow to protect from the stinging snap of a released bowstring.
1999, Lois Sherr Dubin, Togashi, & Paul Jones, North American Indian jewelry and adornment, page 488Totally plain blade and simple two-branch, single-knuckle bow guard with evidence of crude sand casting.
2006, John F. Graf, Warman's Civil War Collectibles Field Guide, →ISBN, page 372The rawhide bow guard was laced up inside, trimmed with silver buttons, feathers, and paint.
2008, Thomas W. Kavanagh, Comanche Ethnography, →ISBN - alternativeAlternative form of bow-guard.
The only metal parts are the rudder hinges and bow guard. Wooden decking, which snaps into place, gives the boat rigidity.
1968, Machine Design - Volume 40, Issues 21-25, page 542 more examples
Two layers of 3/8" plywood are laminated to the bottom, and spray rails and a hard wood bow guard are added before the hull is flipped right side up.
2002, Pacific Fishing - Volume 23, Issues 7-12, page 140Clambering on to the conning tower, he surveyed the boat and discovered that part of the bow guard had sheered off, leaving a twisted claw of metal.
2013, Stephen Snelling, VCs of the First World War, →ISBN - A guard who is stationed at the bow of a ship.
He cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted to the bow guard.
2014, Richard Dawes, Storm Rider, A Tuscon Kid Western, →ISBN, page 252 more examples
The bow guard was watching the other boat as it floated among several fishing boats waiting for the bridge to open.
2003, Lawrence McNally, Walk a Deadly Trail, →ISBN, page 204He glanced toward the bow to see the four bow guards rushing back, clambering over slaves with whips and clubs in hand.
2012, Troy Denning, Faces of Deception, →ISBN
Cite this entry
bow guard. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bow%20guard
“bow guard.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bow%20guard. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “bow guard,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bow%20guard.
Source: bow guard on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.