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Is that part of the ship which is broadest before, and begins from the Loofe, till it come compassing about towards the stem. The proportioning of this part, is of great importance for the sayleing of the Ship: for this first breakes-off the sea, and is that part which beares all the ship forward, on which is in a manner all the bearing of the ship:
If the bowe be too broad the ship will not passe easily through the sea, but carry a great deale of dead water before her: if it be too leane or thin, she will pitch or beate mightily into a hollow sea, for want of bredth to beare her up; so that there must be a discreet meane betwixt both these: The shaping of this part, doth much import the ships going by a-wind; yet I have seene ships of both sorts goe will by a-wind; but most commonly those that have good bolde bowes, and yet it is certaine, that a ships way-after-on is of more importance for her sayle∣ing by a wind. A bold bowe, is a broad round bowe: a Leane bowe, is a narrow thin bowe: the bowe Peece, is that which lies in the bowe.