Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1800-1900
Language: Chinese
Origin: ke tou 'to hit your head'; because when you bow very low you hit your head on the floor

kowtow

 verb
     
kow‧tow [intransitive] informal
to be too eager to obey or be polite to someone in authority
kowtow to
We will not kowtow to the government.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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