I. ˈkau̇ noun
( plural cows or archaic kine ˈkīn)
Etymology: Middle English cou (plural ky, kyn ), from Old English cū (plural cȳ, cȳe, gen. cūna, cȳna ); akin to Old High German kuo cow, Old Norse kȳr, Latin bos ox, cow, Greek bous head of cattle, cow, Sanskrit go bull, cow
1.
a. : the mature female of wild or domestic cattle of the genus Bos or of any of the various animals the male of which is called bull (as the moose, certain seals, or the alligator) — see heifer
b. : a domestic bovine animal regardless of its sex or age
bring home the cows
2. : a person clumsy, obese, coarse, or otherwise unpleasant ; sometimes : prostitute
3. slang Australia : a troublesome or unpleasant person or thing
shot by some silly cow with a gun
— compare fair cow
4. slang : milk
[s]cow.jpg[/s] [
cow 1: 1 hoof, 2 pastern, 3 dewclaw, 4 switch, 5 hock, 6 rear udder, 7 flank, 8 thigh, 9 tail, 10 pinbone, 11 tail head, 12 thurl, 13 hip, 14 barrel, 15 ribs, 16 crops, 17 withers, 18 heart girth, 19 neck, 20 horn, 21 poll, 22 forehead, 23 bridge of nose, 24 muzzle, 25 jaw, 26 throat, 27 point of shoulder, 28 dewlap, 29 point of elbow, 30 brisket, 31 chest floor, 32 knee, 33 milk well, 34 milk vein, 35 fore udder, 36 teats, 37 rump, 38 loin
]
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: origin unknown
Scotland : goblin , bugbear
III. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: alteration of coll (II)
1. chiefly Scotland : to cut short : poll , crop
2. Scotland : overtop , exceed
IV. noun
( -s )
Etymology: origin unknown
1. chiefly Scotland : a bare twig of heather or broom
2. chiefly Scotland : a brush of twigs : besom
V. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Danish kue to subdue, Swedish & Norwegian kuva, obsolete Swedish & Norwegian kuv hump
: daunt , awe : intimidate with threats, show of strength, or impressiveness : dispirit into inactivity or submission
he flung them back, commanded them, cowed them with his hard, intelligent eyes, like a tamer among beasts — Arthur Morrison
frightfulness inaugurated by the military chiefs to cow the inhabitants — A.D.H.Smith
Synonyms: see intimidate
VI. noun
( -s )
Scotland : fright , scare , alarm
VII. noun
( -s )
Etymology: alteration of cowl (I) (chimney pot)
dialect England : a chimney cowl