cowtastrophe

English

Alternative forms

• cow-tastrophe

Etymology

Blend of cow +‎ catastrophe.

Noun

cowtastrophe (plural cowtastrophes)

1. (informal, humorous) A catastrophe involving cattle.
   • 1859, Nathaniel Parker Willis, The Convalescent, page 24:

     As the reclining cow commonly rises first behind [...] with so close a shave upon a cow-tastrophe, I should not stand upon ceremony in the dark.

   • 1904, Moderator Topics, volume 25, page 736:

     Adrian College students corral two cows in the college chapel, and were so chumpy as to be caught at it. Ten boys must face the faculty for this cowtastrophe.

   • 1925, Alice Dale Hardy, The Riddle Club at Sunrise Beach, page 50:

     "Mother, you wouldn't call that a catastrophe, would you?" inquired Artie, who could use words "as long as himself" his father sometimes declared. ¶ "Huh, that was a cowtastrophe," Fred said placidly.

   • 1988 January 12, Weekly World News, volume 9, number 14, page 36:

     Earth faces a cow-tastrophe! The Earth could be on the brink of a death-dealing calamity — and belching cows are partly to blame.