cow

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   An adult female of the species Bos taurus, especially one that has calved.

   The whole herd is out to pasture right now — the cows, calves, and heifers are out back, and the bulls are down by the creek.

2. 2
   noun

   Any member of the species Bos taurus that is not of a bucking breed or fighting breed, regardless of sex or age, including steers and calves.

   We saw lots of cows at the farm show, including some surprisingly gigantic bulls.

3. 3
   noun

   Beef: the meat of cattle as food.

   The only meat I eat is cow.

4. 4
   noun

   A woman considered unpleasant in some way, particularly one considered nasty, stupid, fat, lazy, or difficult.

   […] the worst insult to a woman, either in London or Paris, is "cow"; a name which might even be a compliment, for cows are among the most likeable of animals.

5. 5
   noun

   A third-year cadet at West Point.

   Colonel Red Reeder, West Point Second Classman An assistant manager, wearing the stripes of a cadet corporal, walked up to Coach Smith. Clint knew him, a Cow from B-l. What had he done to become so outstanding that the Tacs made him a corporal?

6. 6
   verb

   To intimidate; to daunt the spirits or courage of.

   Con artists are not cowed by the law.

7. 7
   noun

   A chimney cowl.

   Who could live to gaze from day to day on bricks and slates, who had once felt the influence of a scene like this? Who could continue to exist, where there are no cows but the cows on the chimneypots; nothing redolent of Pan but pan-tiles; […]

8. 8
   noun

   mature female of mammals of which the male is called `bull'

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *gʷṓws Proto-Germanic *kōz Proto-West Germanic *kō Old English cū Middle English cow English cow Inherited from Middle English cow, cou, from Old English cū (“cow”), from Proto-West Germanic *kō, from Proto-Germanic *kōz (“cow”), from Proto-Indo-European *gʷṓws (“cow”). Cognate with Sanskrit गो (go), Ancient Greek βοῦς (boûs), Persian گاو (gâv)), Latvian govs (“cow”), Proto-Slavic *govędo (Serbo-Croatian govedo, Russian говядина (govjadina, “beef”), Scots coo (“cow”), North Frisian ko, kø (“cow”), West Frisian ko (“cow”), Dutch koe (“cow”), Low German Koh, Ko…