Meaning

Representing the sound of a dog barking..

Definitions by Sense

1. Representing the sound of a dog barking.
2. The sound of a dog barking.
3. (humorous or childish) A dog.
4. To make the sound of a dog, to bark, to bow-wow
5. (dated, informal, of language) Grandiose.

Example Sentences

Harke, harke, bowgh wawgh: the watch-Dogges barke, bowgh-wawgh.

She […] hath ſtiled him with an immortall penne, the bawewawe of ſchollars, the tutt of gentlemen, the tee-heegh of gentlewomen, the phy of citizens, the blurt of Courtiers, the poogh of good letters, the faph of good manners, and the whoop-hooe of good boyes in London ſtreetes.

And a chorus of quadruped, white and brown, / Bark’d affirmative, “gone to town,” / With affable bursts of French bow-wow; / (As part of the family they knew how!)

The pack commenced to work back and forth along the ridge. We neared a hollow where Prince barked eagerly. Curley answered, and likewise Queen. Mux’s short, angry bow-wow showed that he was in line.

1902, Theodore Roosevelt, letter to Kermit Roosevelt dated 13 October, 1902, in Joseph Bucklin Bishop (editor), Theodore Roosevelt’s Letters to His Children, New York: Scribner, 1919, p. 36, Gem is really a very nice small bow-wow, but Mother found that in this case possession was less attractive than pursuit.

My grandchild, who, when walking, wobbles, Calls dogs Bow-wows, and turkeys, Gobbles. Today I called a cow Moo-moo; She’s got me talking that way too.

1826, Walter Scott, Diary entry for 14 March, 1826, in The Complete Works of Sir Walter Scott; with a Biography, New York: Conner & Cooke, 1833, Volume 7, Chapter 68, p. 475, Miss Austen […] had a talent for describing the involvements, and feelings, and characters of ordinary life, which is to me the most wonderful I ever met with. The Big Bow-wow strain I can do myself like any now going; but the exquisite touch, which renders ordinary commonplace things and characters interesting, from the truth of the description and the sentiment, is denied to me.

Lord Pembroke said once to me at Wilton, with a happy pleasantry, and some truth, that “Dr. Johnson’s sayings would not appear so extraordinary were it not for his bow-wow way;” but I admit the truth of this only on some occasions.

Word Forms

• bow wow
• bowwow
• bow-wows
• bow-wowing
• bow-wowed

Synonyms for bow-wow

Related Words

When Should You Use Bow-wow?

Use bow-wow when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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