DICT.TW Dictionary Taiwan

 kow·tow /(ˌ)kaʊˈtaʊ, ˈkaʊˌ/
 (v.)叩頭;恭服;磕頭;阿諛;奉承

 Ko·tow n.  Same as kowtow, the more common spellings. [China] [Also spelled kowtow.]

 Ko·tow, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Kotowed p. pr. & vb. n. Kotowing.]
 1. To perform the kotow.  Now usually spelled kowtow. [Also spelled kowtow.]
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 Kow·tow n.  The prostration made by mandarins and others to their superiors, either as homage or worship, by knocking the forehead on the ground; same as Kotow.  There are degrees in the rite, the highest being expressed by three knockings. [China] [Also spelled kotow.]

 Kow·tow, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Kowtowed p. pr. & vb. n. Kowtowing.] To perform the kowtow.  Same as Kotow
    I have salaamed and kowtowed to him.   --H. James.
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 kowtow
      n : a former Chinese custom of touching the ground with the
          forehead as a sign of respect or submission [syn: kotow]
      v 1: bend the knees and bow in a servile manner [syn: scrape, genuflect]
      2: try to gain favor by cringing or flattering; "He is always
         kowtowing to his boss" [syn: fawn, toady, truckle, bootlick,
          kotow, suck up]