cow killer

noun

the wingless female of any of several velvet ants, especially Dasymutilla occidentalis, of the southern U.S., which inflicts a painful sting.

Origin of cow killer

¹

An Americanism dating back to 1885–90

Words Nearby cow killer

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use cow killer in a sentence

He told me about a big grizzly cow-killer being chased and shot in Chevelon Canyon.
Tales of lonely trails | Zane Grey
Hearing the cries of the sacred animals he rushed to their assistance, but the cow-killer was aided by his friends.
The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India - Volume IV of IV | R.V. Russell

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