jow

American  

[jau, 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 < ?

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

jow

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

From Ballad Book by Katherine Lee Bates

As she was walking o'er the fields,   She heard the dead-bell knellin'; And every jow the dead-bell gave   Cried 'Woe to Barbara Allen.'

From Bulchevy's Book of English Verse by Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch

Old Daddy hardly seemed impressed with the pleasure he had missed in losing a sociable "jow" with a ghostly crony.

From The Young Mountaineers Short Stories by Malcolm Fraser

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

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