n.pl.
1. any bison, buffalo, yak, or domesticated bovine animal, esp. of the genus Bos.
2 archaic livestock.
Phrases and idioms:
cattle-cake Brit. a concentrated food for cattle, in cake form. cattle-grid Brit. a grid covering a ditch, allowing vehicles to pass over but not cattle, sheep, etc. cattle-guard US cattle-grid. cattle-plague rinderpest. cattle-stop NZ cattle-grid.
Etymology: ME & AF catel f. OF chatel CHATTEL