1. n.1 a fully grown female of any bovine animal, esp. of the genus Bos, used as a source of milk and beef.
2 the female of other large animals, esp. the elephant, whale, and seal.
3 derog. sl. a a woman esp. a coarse or unpleasant one. b Austral. & NZ an unpleasant person, thing, situation, etc.
Phrases and idioms:
cow-fish
1. any of several small plant-eating mammals, e.g. the manatee.
2 a marine fish, Lactoria diaphana, covered in hard bony plates and having hornlike spines over the eyes and on other parts of the body. cow-heel the foot of a cow or an ox stewed to a jelly. cow-lick a projecting lock of hair. cow-parsley a hedgerow plant Anthriscus sylvestris, having lacelike umbels of flowers: also called Queen Anne's lace. cow-pat a flat round piece of cow-dung. cow-tree a tree, Brosimum galactodendron, native to S. America, yielding a milklike juice which is used as a substitute for cow's milk. cow-wheat any plant of the genus Melampyrum, esp. M. pratense growing on heathland. till the cows come home colloq. an indefinitely long time.
Etymology: OE cu f. Gmc, rel. to L bos, Gk bous 2. v.tr. (usu. in passive) intimidate or dispirit (cowed by ill-treatment).
Etymology: prob. f. ON k{uacute}ga oppress