The prow is the front end of a ship or boat, the part that cuts through the water first as the vessel moves forward. When you stand at the prow, you're at the very front, facing where you're going, with the wind in your face and the water spreading out to either side.

Throughout history, shipbuilders learned that the shape of the prow matters enormously. A well-designed prow slices cleanly through waves, making the ship faster and steadier. Ancient warriors often carved fierce animal heads or protective symbols onto their prows. Viking longships famously had dragon heads, meant to frighten enemies and ward off evil spirits.

The prow is different from the stern, which is the back end of a ship. When someone describes a person as having a “prow-like nose,” they mean it juts forward prominently, like the front of a ship. You might also see the word bow used to mean the same thing as prow, though bow refers more generally to the entire front section, while prow specifically means the pointed, forward-most part.