Word: cow Part of Speech: noun 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, Koo, Kau (“cow”), German Kuh (“cow”), Danish and Swedish ko (“cow”), Norwegian Bokmål and Norwegian Nynorsk ku (“cow”), Faroese kúgv (“cow”), Icelandic kýr (“cow”), Latin bōs (“ox, bull, cow”) (whence English beef), Armenian կով (kov, “cow”). Doublet of beef. The plural kine is from Middle English kyne, kyn, kuin, kiin, kien (“cows”), either a double plural of Middle English ky, kye (“cows”), equivalent to modern kye + -en, or inherited from Old English cūna (“cows', of cows”), genitive plural of cū (“cow”). Pronunciation: /kaʊ/, [kʰæʊː], /kuː/ 1. An adult female of the species Bos taurus, especially one that has calved. Labels: countable, uncountable Example: 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. 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. Labels: broadly, countable, informal, uncountable Example: We saw lots of cows at the farm show, including some surprisingly gigantic bulls. 3. Beef: the meat of cattle as food. Labels: uncommon, uncountable Example: The only meat I eat is cow. 4. Any bovines or bovids generally, including yaks, buffalo, etc. Labels: countable, uncommon, uncountable 5. A female member of other large species of mammal, including the bovines, moose, whales, seals, hippos, rhinos, manatees, and elephants. Labels: countable, uncountable 6. A woman considered unpleasant in some way, particularly one considered nasty, stupid, fat, lazy, or difficult. Labels: Ireland, UK, countable, derogatory, informal, uncountable Example: […] 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. Example: Greville Preston: You've been set up, you silly cow. Now, don't let me hear any more about this unless you have absolute stand-up-in-court proof it's kosher... Mattie Storin: Pig. 7. A chock: a wedge or brake used to stop a machine or car. Labels: countable, uncountable 8. A third-year cadet at West Point. Labels: US, countable, slang, uncountable Example: 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? Example: When I was a cow (junior) at West Point, I dated a plebe (freshman), which is considered fraternization in the cadet realm. 9. A fish that is very large for its species, such as a large striped bass or large bluefin tuna. Labels: countable, slang, uncountable