pow¹

[pou]

See more synonyms for pow on Thesaurus.com

interjection

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

noun

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

adjective

exciting and appealing.

Origin of pow¹

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85

pow²

[poh, pou]

noun Scot. and North England.

the head; poll.

Origin of pow²

First recorded in 1715–25; variant of poll¹

POW

or P.O.W.

prisoner of war.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for pow

Contemporary Examples

For years, the Obama administration avoided calling Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl a POW.
White House Changes Tune on Bergdahl, Says He Was a ‘Prisoner of War’
Josh Rogin
June 3, 2014
When the risks and results of fighting are not equally distributed, we default to a world that delivers “Bow-wow POW.”
The Taliban Trolled the Internet with a Dog Video and Upstaged an American POW
Brian Van Reet
February 11, 2014
But following the POW exchange deal, his conscience tormented him.
Secret Document Shows that NSA Shares Americans' Data With Israel
Orly Halpern
September 12, 2013
Unwittingly, the Ukrainian-born, German POW and death camp guard reversed over 140 years of German jurisprudence.
How to Try a Nazi
Richard Rashke
September 6, 2013
Then, when the war ended, the POW barracks were sent to Grambling to be used for faculty housing.
Eddie Robinson, College Football’s Winningest Coach
Samuel G. Freedman
August 23, 2013

Historical Examples

A man may see his friend in need, that wouldna see his pow bleed.
The Proverbs of Scotland
Alexander Hislop
There's little wit in the pow that lichts the candle at the lowe.
The Proverbs of Scotland
Alexander Hislop
Pow'ful bad, pow'ful bad,” said the Bishop—“and you three made Zion.
The Bishop of Cottontown
John Trotwood Moore
“Come to think of it, I'm pow'ful obleeged to you,” she said.
The Bishop of Cottontown
John Trotwood Moore
He didn't do much of anything and he was "pow'ful good-lookin'."
Basil Everman
Elsie Singmaster

British Dictionary definitions for pow

pow¹

interjection

an exclamation imitative of a collision, explosion, etc

pow²

noun

Scot the head or a head of hair

Word Origin

a Scot variant of poll

pow³

noun

Scot a creek or slow stream

Word Origin

C15: from earlier Scots poll

POW

abbreviation for

prisoner of war

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for pow

expression imitative of a blow, collision, etc., first recorded 1881.

pow.css-pdubzd{font-size:17px;vertical-align:super;}1

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}pow1

pow2

Origin of pow2

POW

or P.O.W.

Examples from the Web for pow

Contemporary Examples

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

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

But following the POW exchange deal, his conscience tormented him.

Unwittingly, the Ukrainian-born, German POW and death camp guard reversed over 140 years of German jurisprudence.

Then, when the war ended, the POW barracks were sent to Grambling to be used for faculty housing.

Historical Examples

A man may see his friend in need, that wouldna see his pow bleed.

There's little wit in the pow that lichts the candle at the lowe.

Pow'ful bad, pow'ful bad,” said the Bishop—“and you three made Zion.

“Come to think of it, I'm pow'ful obleeged to you,” she said.

He didn't do much of anything and he was "pow'ful good-lookin'."

pow1

pow2

Word Origin

pow3

Word Origin

POW

Word Origin and History for pow

pow¹

Origin of pow¹

pow²

Origin of pow²

pow¹

pow²

pow³