Middle English word bowe comes from Proto-Indo-European *bʰewgʰ-, and later Proto-Germanic *beuganą (To bend, bow.)
| Dictionary entry | Language | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| *bʰewgʰ- | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | |
| *beuganą | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | To bend, bow. |
| *bʰugʰ- | Proto-Indo-European (ine-pro) | |
| *bugô | Proto-Germanic (gem-pro) | A bow. |
| boga | Old English (ang) | Something bent or curved, especially a bow. |
| bowe | Middle English (enm) | Bow. Bowman. |