bell cow

noun

a cow, especially the lead cow of a herd, having a bell attached to a collar around its neck so that the herd can be located easily.

An Americanism dating back to 1855–60

The Deacon jingled it as he passed.223 "Goes with the bell-cow," he said, and nothing further was said of it.

The bell cow threw up her head and bellowed till the cow house echoed.

The bell cow threw up her head and with a loud, echoing bellow started to follow her.

The horses hurried ahead; the cows began to trot, the bell cow sending out an eager Moo-oo!

But the evening was come, and the bell-cow, home from her browsing, was ringing for admittance at the barn-yard gate.

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