Prow

For the kind of sailing vessel, see Proa.

The prow of the USS Salem (CA-139)

The prow is the forward-most part of a ship's bow that cuts through the water. The prow is the part of the bow above the waterline. The terms prow and bow are often used interchangeably to describe the most forward part of a ship and its surrounding parts. In old naval parlance, the prow was the battery of guns placed in the fore gun-deck.

See also

• Glossary of nautical terms