bough / bow
A tree limb versus a bend, a front of a ship, or a knot.
A bough is a branch. Bow is the other word: to bend the body, the front of a ship, or a tied loop. Do not write bough for the front of the boat.
Examples
UseSnow broke the bough.
UseThe ship’s bow cut the ice.
AvoidSnow broke the bow. (If you mean the branch.)