bow

The bow is the front part of a ship's hull. It is designed to cut through the water, and its shape can significantly impact a ship's performance. Some bows are sharp and perpendicular to the waterline, known as a plumb-stem bow. Others, like the bulbous bow, are designed to reduce wave-making resistance at high speeds by expanding into a pear shape near the keel. Historically, bows were also decorated with figureheads, which could be symbols or figures representing the ship's name or purpose. The port bow specifically refers to the left-hand side of the ship's hull as viewed from the stern.12345