farrow

¹ American  

[far-oh] / ˈfær oʊ /

noun

1. a litter of pigs.

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verb (used with object)

1. (of swine) to bring forth (young).

verb (used without object)

1. to produce a litter of pigs.

farrow ² American  

[far-oh] / ˈfær oʊ /

adjective

1. (of a cow) not pregnant.

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farrow ¹ British  

/ ˈfærəʊ /

noun

1. a litter of piglets

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verb

1. (of a sow) to give birth to (a litter)

farrow ² British  

/ ˈfærəʊ /

adjective

1. (of a cow) not calving in a given year

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Usage

What does farrow mean? A farrow is a litter of piglets. Farrow can also be used as a verb meaning (for a mother pig) to produce a litter of piglets. Unrelatedly, farrow can also be used as an adjective describing a cow that is not pregnant in a given year—one year a cow may have baby cows, and the next year it may be farrow. Example: Three of our sows successfully farrowed—each had a farrow of 12 piglets.

Etymology

Origin of farrow¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English farwen “to give birth to a litter of pigs,” derivative of Old English fearh “pig” (cognate with Latin porcus ); akin to German Ferkel “young pig”

Origin of farrow²

1485–95; akin to Dutch dialect verwe- (in verwekoe barren cow), Old English fearr ox

Example Sentences

As a result, Mr Farrow believes different groups have since been able to hijack them as their own symbols.

From BBC • Sep. 14, 2025

Last year, she even complained about noise from the Alicia Keys musical “Hell’s Kitchen” when she was performing in “The Roommate” with Mia Farrow next door.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 1, 2025

Another friend, actress Mia Farrow, goes into Minnelli's close relationship with her own children, and how she's been so great with them.

From Salon • Jan. 27, 2025

Guest: Ronan Farrow, investigative reporter and producer of the Max documentary “Surveilled.”

From Slate • Dec. 15, 2024

Then Farrow tucked his slip of paper back into his pocket and stepped out into the hallway, leaving my door standing open.

From "Winger" by Andrew Smith