bow wave

[ bou ]

noun

1. the wave generated on either side of a vessel's bow by its forward movement through the water.
2. a type of shock wave formed in front of a body moving at supersonic speed.

Word History and Origins

Origin of bow wave¹

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

It was the bow wave of a boom decade of growth the likes of which the city hadn’t seen since the gold rush.

From Seattle Times

Joshua Skule, a former FBI senior executive who now runs national security services company Bow Wave, says the use of smartphones and social media has made looking for fugitives both easier and harder - easier because of electronic trails, but harder because of the rise of encrypted communications.

From BBC

Diffuse gas in the two galactic haloes would compress on collision, forming a curved structure like the bow wave from a ship moving through water.

From Scientific American

Some observers have noted that in one of the other security camera videos, something that looks like the bow wave of a small boat appears next to one of the bridge supports, a split second before the explosion.

From BBC

However, Clark said Emirates needs “a bow wave” of new planes mid-decade and is “hamstrung” by Boeing’s delays.

From Seattle Times