bow guard

noun

A guard who is stationed at the bow of a ship.

Meanings

nounbow guard (plural bow guards)

plural bow guards

  1. alternativeAlternative form of bowguard.

    She tugged the cloth napkin off the bow guard, sitting on the table.

    2011, Michelle L. Levigne, The Rift War, →ISBN
    3 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 488

    Totally 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 372

    The rawhide bow guard was laced up inside, trimmed with silver buttons, feathers, and paint.

    2008, Thomas W. Kavanagh, Comanche Ethnography, →ISBN
  2. 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 54
    2 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 140

    Clambering 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
  3. 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 25
    2 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 204

    He 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
APA

bow guard. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bow%20guard

MLA

“bow guard.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/bow%20guard. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

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.