1. family name; herbert henry dow (1866-1930), american chemist and industrialist who established the dow chemical company in 1897. ship with triangular sails (used in arabia and ındia). dowsee under dhowdow dow, v. t. [f. douer. see: dower.] to furnish with a dower; to endow. [obs.]dow dow , n. a kind of vessel. see: dhow