Meaning
A derogatory dancehall insult for a person — usually a man — accused of performing oral sex, which is strongly stigmatised in the culture. It is used to shame and demean, and it often carries a homophobic charge. An offensive slur, it belongs to the harsh, condemning side of dancehall's talk about sex and sexuality, and it is documented here to explain what it means and how it wounds, not to endorse it. It reflects a real and hurtful prejudice, and the person it is aimed at deserves respect, not the slur.
Examples
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It get thrown as a harsh insult.
It gets thrown as a harsh insult.
Used to demean and shame, not as neutral description.
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Dat word deep offensive, nuh use it.
That word is deeply offensive, don't use it.
An offensive slur, documented here only for reference.
Origin
A dancehall coinage; 'bow' refers to the act it stigmatises. It rose with the taboo around oral sex in Jamaican popular culture.
How it’s used
An offensive, derogatory slur that causes real hurt and is often homophobic. Listed and labelled here so the reference is complete and its offensiveness is clear — not to endorse or encourage its use.