down-bow

American  

[doun-boh] / ˈdaʊnˌboʊ /

noun

Music.

1. (in bowing bow on a stringed instrument) a stroke bringing the tip of the bow toward the strings, indicated in scores by the symbol (up-bow ).

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down-bow British  

/ ˈdaʊnˌbəʊ /

noun

1. a downward stroke of the bow from its nut to its tip across a stringed instrument Compare up-bow

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Etymology

Origin of down-bow

First recorded in 1890–95; down ¹ + bow ²

Example Sentences

Every bow movement, from delicate nudges at the tip to slashing down-bow accents, produced a flawless tone, fine-drawn and luminous, made mellow but not ripe by judicious use of vibrato.

From Time Magazine Archive

The conductor of a symphonic orchestra does not care how, technically, certain effects are produced by the violins, whether they use an up-bow or a down-bow.

From Violin Mastery Talks with Master Violinists and Teachers by Martens, Frederick Herman

And the violinist should never think: 'I must play this up-bow or down-bow.'

From Violin Mastery Talks with Master Violinists and Teachers by Martens, Frederick Herman

A quick down-bow follows with an immediate release of the string.

From Violin Mastery Talks with Master Violinists and Teachers by Martens, Frederick Herman

Artists of the German school are more apt to begin a phrase with a down-bow; the French start playing a good deal at the point.

From Violin Mastery Talks with Master Violinists and Teachers by Martens, Frederick Herman