An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

1a) A bent, curved, or arched object.

1b) A weapon made of a curved, flexible strip of material
and a cord connecting the two ends that is used to launch an arrow.

2. The front of a ship or boat; prow; opposite to stern or poop, → Puppis.

Etymology (EN): 1) M.E., from O.E. boga “archery bow, arch, rainbow” (cf. O.Norse bogi, Du. boog, Ger. Bogen “bow”); PIE root *bheug- “to bend;” cf. Skt. bhujati “bends;” O.H.G. boug, O.E. beag “a ring”).

2. M.E. boue, from O.N. bogr or M.Du. boech “bow of a ship.”

Etymology (PE): 1) Kamân “bow, arc,”
from Mid.Pers. kamân, related to xam “curve,” cf. Breton kamm “curved, bent,” Gk. kampe “a corner, a joint,” L. campus “a field,” Lith. kampus “corner,” PIE *kamb- “to bend, crook.”

Farâl, from farâ “forward” (farâ raftan “to go forward, proceed,” farâ rândan “to drive forward”), equivalent to → pro-, + relation suffix -âl, → -al. Compare farâl with prow “bow,” Fr. la proue “prow, bow,” from dialectal It. proa, prua, from L. prora “bow,” from Gk. proira, related to pro “before, forward.”