Bow is a term which has multiple meanings within the sport of rowing

Rowing (sport)

Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...

. It is used to refer to a rower seated in a particular position and to one side of the boat.

Bow

The "bow

Bow (ship)

The bow is a nautical term that refers to the forward part of the hull of a ship or boat, the point that is most forward when the vessel is underway. Both of the adjectives fore and forward mean towards the bow...

" or sometimes "bows" of a boat refers to the forward part of the hull

Hull (watercraft)

A hull is the watertight body of a ship or boat. Above the hull is the superstructure and/or deckhouse, where present. The line where the hull meets the water surface is called the waterline.The structure of the hull varies depending on the vessel type...

, the point that is most forward when the vessel is underway. The other end of the boat is called the stern

Stern

The stern is the rear or aft-most part of a ship or boat, technically defined as the area built up over the sternpost, extending upwards from the counter rail to the taffrail. The stern lies opposite of the bow, the foremost part of a ship. Originally, the term only referred to the aft port section...

.

Bow seat

When the boat has more than one rower

Boat positions (sport rowing)

In the sport of rowing, each rower is numbered by boat position in ascending order from the bow to the stern . The person who is seated on the first seat is always the 'bowman', or more commonly called just 'bow', the closest to the stern is commonly referred to as the 'strokeman' or 'stroke'...

, the rower closest to the bow

Bow (ship)

The bow is a nautical term that refers to the forward part of the hull of a ship or boat, the point that is most forward when the vessel is underway. Both of the adjectives fore and forward mean towards the bow...

 of the boat is referred to as "Bow". In coxless boats, bow is usually the person who keeps an eye on the water behind him to avoid accidents. The rower at the opposite end of the boat is referred to as stroke.

Bow side

Bow side refers to the starboard side of the boat which is on the right hand side of a cox facing forwards but on the left-hand side of a rower facing backwards. The usage derives from the tradition of having the bow rower's oar be on the starboard or right side of the boat.