View source for cow

{{also|Cow|CoW|COW}}
==English==
{{wikipedia|lang=en|cow (disambiguation)}}

===Pronunciation===
* {{enPR|kou}}, {{IPA|en|/kaʊ/}}
* {{audio|en|en-uk-a cow.ogg|a=UK|text=a cow}}
* {{audio|en|en-us-cow.ogg|a=US}}
* {{rhymes|en|aʊ|s=1}}

===Etymology 1===
[[Image:Koe in weiland bij Gorssel.JPG|thumb|{{lang|en|A '''cow''' eats [[grass]].}}]]

{{etymon|en|inh|enm>cou>cow|id=Bos taurus|tree=1}}
{{inh+|en|enm|cou}}, {{m|enm|cu}}, from {{inh|en|ang|cū||cow}}, from {{inh|en|gmw-pro|*kō}}, from {{inh|en|gem-pro|*kōz||cow}}, from {{inh|en|ine-pro|*gʷṓws||cow}}.

Cognate with {{cog|sa|गौ|tr=gow}}, {{cog|grc|βοῦς}}, {{cog|fa|گاو|tr=gâv}}), {{cog|lv|govs||cow}}, Proto-Slavic {{m|sla-pro|*govędo}} (Serbo-Croatian {{m|sh|govedo}}, Russian {{m|ru|говядина|t=beef}}, {{cog|sco|coo|t=cow}}, {{cog|frr|ko}}, {{m|frr|kø|t=cow}}, {{cog|fy|ko|t=cow}}, {{cog|nl|koe|t=cow}}, {{cog|nds|Koh|Koh, Koo, Kau|t=cow}}, {{cog|de|Kuh|t=cow}}, {{cog|sv|ko|t=cow}}, {{cog|no|ku|t=cow}}, {{cog|is|kýr|t=cow}}, {{cog|la|bōs|t=ox, bull, cow}}, {{cog|hy|կով|t=cow}}. {{doublet|en|beef}}.

<!--Moved from [[kine]].-->The plural {{m|en|kine}} is from {{inh|en|enm|kyne}}, {{m|enm|kyn}}, {{m|enm|kuin}}, {{m|enm|kiin}}, {{m|enm|kien|t=cows}}, either a double plural of {{cog|enm|ky}}, {{m|enm|kye|t=cows}}, equivalent to modern {{suffix|en|kye|en|pos=noun plural|nocat=1}}, or inherited from {{inh|en|ang|cȳna|t=cows', of cows}}, genitive plural of {{m|ang|cū|t=cow}}.

====Noun====
{{slim-wikipedia|lang=en}}
{{en-noun|~|+|cattle|kine|pl4qual=archaic or dialectal}}

# {{senseid|en|female Bos}} {{lb|en|strictly|}} An [[adult]] [[female]] of the [[species]] {{taxfmt|Bos taurus|species}}, especially one that has [[calved]].
#: {{hypo|en|dairy cow|milk cow}}
#: {{cot|en|bull|bullock|calf|heifer|heiferette}}
#: {{ux|en|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.}}
# {{senseid|en|any Bos}} {{lb|en|loosely|or|informal}} Any member of the species {{taxfmt|Bos taurus|species}} regardless of [[sex]] or [[age]], including [[bull]]s and [[calf|calves]].
#: {{syn|en|cattle beast}}<!--using this term avoids using the loose sense of "cow" for males-->
#: {{ux|en|We saw lots of '''cows''' at the farm show, including some surprisingly gigantic bulls.}}
# {{senseid|en|beef}} {{lb|en|uncommon|uncountable}} [[beef|Beef]]: the [[meat]] of cattle as [[food]].
#: {{ux|en|The only meat I eat is '''cow'''.}}
# {{senseid|en|any bovid}} {{lb|en|uncommon}} Any [[bovine]]s or [[bovid]]s generally, including [[yak]]s, [[buffalo]], etc.
# {{senseid|en|female of any of various mammalian species}} {{lb|en|biology}} A female member of other large species of [[mammal]], including the bovines, [[moose]], [[whale]]s, [[seal]]s, [[hippo]]s, [[rhino]]s, [[manatee]]s, and [[elephant]]s.
# {{senseid|en|woman, derogatorily}} {{lb|en|derogatory|UK|Irish|informal}} A [[woman]] considered [[unpleasant]] in some way, particularly one considered [[nasty]], [[stupid]], [[fat]], [[lazy]], or [[difficult]].
#* {{RQ:Orwell Down and Out|chapter=32|passage={{...}} 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.}}
#* {{quote-text|en|year=1990|title=[[w:House of Cards (UK TV show)|House of Cards]]|section=Season 1, Episode 2
|passage=''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]]...<br>''Mattie Storin:'' [[pig|Pig]].}}
#* {{quote-journal|en|date=2014-12-05|author=w:Marina Hyde|title=Childbirth is as awful as it is magical, thanks to our postnatal ‘care’|journal=w:The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/dec/05/childbirth-postnatal-care-birth-hospital-cuts|passage=By the time of my third, five months ago, I was a right bossy '''cow''' about what I wanted because I knew the drill. For reasons I shan’t bore you with, I got them to induce me at 39 weeks, at 10am, with the epidural going in first, and it was all a dream. }}
# {{senseid|en|chock}} {{lb|en|mining}} A [[chock]]: a [[wedge]] or [[brake]] used to stop a [[machine]] or [[car]].
#: {{cot|en|dog}}
# {{lb|en|US|military|slang}} 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?
#* {{quote-book|en|year=2023|author=James E Parco; David A Levy; Daphne DePorres|title=Attitudes Aren't Free: A Call to Action|page=242
|passage=When I was a '''cow''' (junior) at West Point, I dated a plebe (freshman), which is considered fraternization in the cadet realm.}}
# {{lb|en|fishing|slang}} A fish that is very large for its species, such as a large [[striped bass]] or large [[bluefin tuna]].

=====Usage notes=====
* The plural {{m|en|cows}} is the normal plural for multiple individuals, while {{m|en|cattle}} is used in a more collective sense. The [[umlaut]] plurals {{m|en|kee}}, {{m|en|kie}}, {{m|en|kine}}, {{m|en|ky}} and {{m|en|kye}} are archaic or dialectal, and are not in common use.

=====Synonyms=====
* {{sense|derogatory: despicable woman}} {{l|en|bitch}}
* {{sense|female animal}}
** {{sense|female bovine}} {{l|en|moo-cow}} {{q|[[baby talk|child-directed speech]]}}
** {{sense|female dolphin}} {{l|en|dolphinet}} {{q|archaic}}
* {{sense|informal: anything annoyingly difficult}} {{l|en|bastard}}, {{l|en|bitch}}, {{l|en|bugger}} {{qualifier|UK}}

=====Antonyms=====
* {{antsense|female domesticated ox or other bovine}} {{l|en|bull}} {{qualifier|male, uncastrated}}, [[ox]] or [[steer]] {{qualifier|male, castrated}}, [[heifer]] {{qualifier|female, immature}}

=====Hyponyms=====
* {{sense|young or little}} {{l|en|cowlet}}, {{l|en|cowling}}
* {{sense|dairy}} {{l|en|dairy cow}}, {{l|en|milk cow}}

=====Derived terms=====
{{der3|en|cow sucker|Highland cow|like a cow on a flat rock|technetium cow|cowback|cowbane|cowbarn|cowchild|cowhearted|cowhide|cowish|cowlift|cowlot|cowness|cowpat|cowpiss|cowplop|cowpock|cowproof|cowsense|cowstealer|cowtail|cowtastrophe|cowtown|cowturd|hucow|killcow|lolcow|noncow|uncowable|worricow
|ant cow
|anticow|cow pusher
|bell cow
|black cow|Japanese crab|paddyfields crab|tuna crab
|cows and bulls|hay is for horses and cows
|cash cow
|cat-cow
|cowbell
|cowberry|bull and cow
|cow bingo
|cowbird
|cow bite
|cowboy
|cowcatcher
|cow chip
|cow-clicker
|cow cocky
|cow cod soup
|cow corner
|cow creamer
|cowdom
|cowdung
|cow elephant
|cow-eyed
|cow eyes
|cowfinch
|cowfish
|cowflesh
|cowfoot
|cowfucker
|cowgal
|cowgirl
|cowhand
|cowheel
|cowherb
|{{l|en|cowherd}}, {{l|en|cowherder}}
|cow hitch
|cow-hocked
|cowhouse
|cow juice
|cowkeeper
|cow killer
|cowleech
|cowless
|cowlet
|cowlick
|cowlike
|cowling
|cowman
|{{l|en|cowmilk}}, {{l|en|cow milk}}, {{l|en|cow's milk}}
|cownose
|cow parsley
|cow parsnip
|{{l|en|cow pat}}, {{l|en|cow patty}}
|cowpath
|cowpea
|cowperson
|{{l|en|cowpie}}, {{l|en|cow pie}}
|cow-pilot
|cowpoke
|cowpony
|{{l|en|cowpool}}, {{l|en|cow pool}}
|cowpooling
|cowpox
|cowpuncher
|cowpunching
|cowpunk
|cowquake
|cowshed
|cowshit
|cow shot
|cowskin
|cow's lungwort
|{{l|en|cowstall}}, {{l|en|cow stall}}
|cow tipping
|cow town
|Cowtown
|{{l|en|cow-tree}}, {{l|en|cow tree}}
|cow vetch
|cow weed
|cow-wheat
|cowy
|cowyard
|dairy cow
|dogcow
|gentleman cow
|have a cow
|holy cow
|how the cow ate the cabbage
|in two shakes of a cow's tail
|{{l|en|mad cow disease}}, {{l|en|mad cow}}
|mercow
|milch cow
|milk cow
|moly cow
|{{l|en|moo-cow}}, {{l|en|moo cow}}
|nearly never bulled a cow
|sacred cow
|sea cow
|springing cow
|Steller's sea cow
|supercow
|until the cows come home
|werecow
|yakow|bulls and cows|bush cow|cow bell|cow belt|cow blowing|cow catcher|cow college|cow dung|cow grease|cow gum|cow handed|cow magnet|cow meat|cow pony|cow shark|cow sociology|cow urine|cow-chip|cow-dung|cow-handed|cow-hearted|cow-mother|cow-orker|cow-pat|cow-puncher|cow-tastrophe|dark as the inside of a cow|frozen cow juice|kill-cow|like a cow pissing on a flat rock|sea-cow|spherical cow|the cow knows not the worth of its tail till it loses it|till the cow come home|tune the old cow died of|why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free
}}

=====Descendants=====
* {{desc|srn|kaw}}
* {{desc|tpi|kau}}
* {{desc|bor=1|abe|kaoz}} {{q|from {{m|en|cows}}}}
* {{desc|bor=1|mi|kau}}

=====Translations=====
{{see translation subpage|Noun}}

====See also====
* {{pedia|List of sequenced animal genomes}}
{{top2}}
* {{l|en|beef}}
* {{l|en|bovine}}
* {{l|en|bull}}
* {{l|en|calf}}
* {{l|en|cattle}}
* {{l|en|heifer}}
* {{l|en|steer}}
* {{l|en|low}}
* {{l|en|moo}}
* {{l|en|ox}}
* {{l|en|veal}}
{{bottom}}

===Etymology 2===
Probably from {{der|en|non|kúga||to oppress}} (whence also {{cog|no|-}} and {{cog|da|kue}}, {{cog|sv|kuva}}); compare {{cog|is|kúfa||to set on top}} and {{cog|fo|kúga||to oppress}}.

====Verb====
{{en-verb}}

# {{senseid|en|intimidate}} {{lb|en|transitive|mostly|in the passive voice}} To [[intimidate]]; to daunt the spirits or courage of.
#: {{syn|en|Thesaurus:intimidate}}
#: {{ux|en|Con artists are not '''cowed''' by the law.}}
#* {{RQ:Spectator|II|167|September 11 1711|Steele|passage=To vanquish a people already '''cowed'''.}}
#* {{quote-text|en|year=1923|author={{w|Lucy Maud Montgomery}}|title=Emily of New Moon|chapter=[[s:Emily of New Moon/Chapter 8|Chapter 8]]
|passage=Emily looked across at the girl. Large, steady, purplish-grey eyes gazed into beady, twinkling, black ones—gazed unquailingly—with something in them that '''cowed''' and compelled. The black eyes wavered and fell, their owner covering her retreat with another giggle and toss of her short braid of hair.}}

=====Derived terms=====
* {{l|en|cowed}}
* {{l|en|cowedly}}
* {{l|en|cowedness}}
* {{l|en|uncowed}}

=====Translations=====
{{trans-top-also|to intimidate|intimidate|daunt}}
* Bulgarian: {{t+|bg|сплашвам}}, {{t+|bg|укротявам}}
* Chinese:
*: Mandarin: {{t+|cmn|恐嚇|tr=kǒnghè}}
* Estonian: {{t|et|pelutama}}, {{t+|et|peletama}}, {{t|et|hirmutama}}
* Finnish: {{t+|fi|pelottaa}}
* Hebrew: {{t|he|הפחיד|tr=hifkhíd}}
* Hungarian: {{t+|hu|megfélemlít}}, {{t+|hu|elriaszt}}
* Italian: {{t+|it|intimidire}}
* Japanese: {{t+|ja|威す|tr=おどす, odosu}}, {{t+|ja|脅迫|tr=きょうはくする, kyōhaku suru|alt=脅迫する}}, {{t+|ja|脅かす|tr=おびやかす, obiyakasu}}
* Norwegian: {{t+|no|kue}}, {{t|no|underkue}}
* Russian: {{t+|ru|запу́гивать|impf}}, {{t+|ru|запуга́ть|pf}}
* Spanish: {{t+|es|intimidar}}
* Ukrainian: {{t|uk|заля́кувати|impf}}, {{t|uk|заляка́ти|pf}}
{{trans-bottom}}

===Etymology 3===

====Noun====
{{en-noun}}

# {{lb|en|UK|dialect}} A [[chimney]] [[cowl]].
#* {{quote-book|en|year=1836|author=w:Charles Dickens| title=w:The Pickwick Papers| passage=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; {{...}}}}

===Etymology 4===
{{clipping of|en|AT2018cow}} From the name of the archetypal event, {{w|lang=en|AT2018cow}}, an {{m|en|LFBOT}}. From being an astronomical {{l|en|transient}} (AT) occurring in 2018, with an automatically assigned code to distinguish it from other events in 2018.

====Noun====
{{en-noun}}

# {{lb|en|astronomy}} {{m|en|LFBOT}}: {{synonym of|en|luminous fast blue optical transient}}

=====Synonyms=====
{{col3|en|title=instance of|
|[[LFBOT]] ([[luminous fast blue optical transient]])
|cow event
|cow-like event
|cow-class event
}}
{{col3|en|title=class of|
|[[luminous fast blue optical transient]] ([[LFBOT]])
|cow class
}}

=====Hypernyms=====
{{col3|en|
|[[FBOT]] ([[fast blue optical transient]])
}}

===Anagrams===
* {{anagrams|en|a=cow|CWO|OCW|WOC}}

{{cln|en|autohyponyms|nouns with irregular plurals}}
{{C|en|Cattle|Female animals}}

==Huave==

===Noun===
{{head|huv|noun}}

# [[metate]] (grinding stone)

====Derived terms====
{{col3|huv
|end cow
|owix cow
}}

===References===
* {{R:Stairs et al. 1981|pages=88, 252}}

==Middle English==

===Noun===
{{head|enm|noun}}

# {{alt form|enm|cou}}