The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Bow \Bow\ (bou), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Bowed; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Bowing.] [OE. bowen, bogen, bugen, AS. b[=u]gan (generally
   v. i.); akin to D. buigen, OHG. biogan, G. biegen, beugen,
   Icel. boginn bent, beygja to bend, Sw. b["o]ja, Dan. b["o]ie,
   bugne, Coth. biugan; also to L. fugere to flee, Gr. ?, and
   Skr. bhuj to bend. [root]88. Cf. Fugitive.]
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   1. To cause to deviate from straightness; to bend; to
      inflect; to make crooked or curved.
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            We bow things the contrary way, to make them come to
            their natural straightness.           --Milton.
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            The whole nation bowed their necks to the worst kind
            of tyranny.                           --Prescott.
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   2. To exercise powerful or controlling influence over; to
      bend, figuratively; to turn; to incline.
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            Adversities do more bow men's minds to religion.
                                                  --Bacon.
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            Not to bow and bias their opinions.   --Fuller.
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   3. To bend or incline, as the head or body, in token of
      respect, gratitude, assent, homage, or condescension.
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            They came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the
            ground before him.                    --2 Kings ii.
                                                  15.
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   4. To cause to bend down; to prostrate; to depress,;? to
      crush; to subdue.
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            Whose heavy hand hath bowed you to the grave.
                                                  --Shak.
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   5. To express by bowing; as, to bow one's thanks.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Bow \Bow\ (b[=o]), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Bowed; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Bowing.]
   To play (music) with a bow. -- v. i. To manage the bow.
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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Bowing \Bow"ing\, n. (Mus.)
   1. The act or art of managing the bow in playing on stringed
      instruments.
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            Bowing constitutes a principal part of the art of
            the violinist, the violist, etc.      --J. W. Moore.
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   2. In hatmaking, the act or process of separating and
      distributing the fur or hair by means of a bow, to prepare
      it for felting.
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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

bowing
    adj 1: showing an excessively deferential manner [syn: bowed,
           bowing]
    n 1: bending the head or body or knee as a sign of reverence or
         submission or shame or greeting [syn: bow, bowing,
         obeisance]
    2: managing the bow in playing a stringed instrument; "the
       violinist's bowing was excellent"

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary:

Bowing
   a mode of showing respect. Abraham "bowed himself to the people
   of the land" (Gen. 23:7); so Jacob to Esau (Gen. 33:3); and the
   brethren of Joseph before him as the governor of the land (Gen.
   43:28). Bowing is also frequently mentioned as an act of
   adoration to idols (Josh. 23:7; 2 Kings 5:18; Judg. 2:19; Isa.
   44:15), and to God (Josh. 5:14; Ps. 22:29; 72:9; Micah 6:6; Ps.
   95:6; Eph. 3:14).