jow

American  

[jou, joh] / dʒaʊ, dʒoʊ /

noun

1. the ringing, tolling, or sound of a bell.

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verb (used with object)

1. to ring or toll (a bell).

2. to hit or strike (especially the head).

verb (used without object)

1. to rock from side to side.

Etymology

Origin of jow

1510–20; variant of joll (now dial.), Middle English jollen to strike < ?

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

jow

Now Clinkumbell, wi' rattlin tow, Begins to jow an' croon; Some swagger hame the best they dow, Some wait the afternoon.

From Poems and Songs of Robert Burns by Robert Burns

She had not gane a mile but twa,  When she heard the dead-bell ringing, And every jow that the dead-bell geid,  It cry'd, "Woe to Barbara Allan."

From Types of Children's Literature by Walter Barnes

The herrings appeared about the second week in August and remained until the end of September, but the whales swallowed barrels of them at one "jow."

From From John O'Groats to Land's End by Robert Naylor

As she was walking o'er the fields, She heard the dead-bell knelling; And every jow the dead-bell gave, It cried, "Woe to Barbara Allen!"

From The Book of Old English Ballads by Hamilton Wright Mabie

Alice!" said the sexton; "and is she gane at last? that's another jow of the bell to bid me be ready.

From The Bride of Lammermoor by Sir Walter Scott