pow

¹

[ pou ]

interjection

1. (used to express or indicate a heavy blow or a loud, explosive noise.)

noun

1. a heavy blow or a loud, explosive noise.
2. the power of exciting.

adjective

1. exciting and appealing.

pow

²

[ poh, pou ]

noun

, Scot. and North England.

1. the head; poll.

POW

³

or P.O.W.

1. prisoner of war.

pow

¹

/ paʊ /

interjection

1. an exclamation imitative of a collision, explosion, etc

pow

²

/ paʊ /

noun

1. the head or a head of hair

POW

³

abbreviation for

1. prisoner of war

pow

⁴

/ paʊ /

noun

1. a creek or slow stream

Word History and Origins

Origin of pow¹

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85

Origin of pow²

First recorded in 1715–25; variant of poll ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of pow¹

a Scot variant of poll

Origin of pow²

C15: from earlier Scots poll

Example Sentences

A map shows each station on the route, along with marking POW camps and other landmarks along the way.

From The Daily Beast

He cites an interview that a freed POW, Air Force Lt. Col. William Harrison, gave to The New York Times in 1953.

From The Daily Beast

And when rappers battle one another with their wits and words, it is similar to the bam-pow!

From The Daily Beast

For years, the Obama administration avoided calling Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl a POW.

From The Daily Beast

When the risks and results of fighting are not equally distributed, we default to a world that delivers “Bow-wow POW.”

From The Daily Beast

She's done got a pow'ful quick tempah, my Miss Betty has, same's all my Somerset family had, bein' fust quality folks lak dey was.

From Project Gutenberg

He was a skittish horse, gentle, as Andy explained, but "pow'ful nervous—had to be sort o' coaxed along."

From Project Gutenberg

There was a grand "pow-wow," as William called it, after he came.

From Project Gutenberg

Why should he be permitted to defile with the fat of his sleek locks a crown intended to adorn the grizzled pow of his elders?

From Project Gutenberg

Among the neighboring Cherokees, was one named Silouee, celebrated as a chief and pow-wow, or medicine man.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• clout
• courage
• durability
• energy
• firmness
• fortitude
• health
• power
• stability
• tenacity
• toughness
• vigor
• vitality