no obj.
1- historical kneel and touch the ground with the forehead in worship or submission as part of Chinese custom〈史〉（中国习俗中用以表示敬拜或屈服）磕头, 叩头。
1.1
- figurative act in an excessively subservient manner〈喻〉奉承, 卑躬屈膝：
she didn't have to kowtow to a boss.
她不必对老板卑躬屈膝。
- historical an act of kneeling and touching the ground with the forehead in such a way〈史〉叩头, 磕头。
派生词
kowtower
noun词源
early 19th cent.: from Chinese kētóu, from kē 'knock' + tóu 'head'.