Look up prow in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

The prow is the forward most part of a ship's bow that cuts through the water. It is often depicted in movies with a carved figurehead in the form of a mermaid, a woman in 19th-century dress or other similar figure. The prow is the part of the bow above the waterline. The terms prow and stem are often used interchangeably to describe the most forward part of a ship and its surrounding parts. In old naval parlance, the prow applied to the battery of guns placed in the fore gun-deck.

"Prow" may also refer to a pointed, projecting front part of other travelling objects, such as a racing skates, airplanes, or chariots.

[edit] See also

• Glossary of nautical terms