cow

¹ American  

[kou] / kaʊ /

noun

cows, plural kine plural

1. the mature female of a bovine animal, especially of the genus Bos.

2. the female of certain other mammals, as elephants, seals, and whales.

3. Informal. a domestic bovine of either sex and any age.

4. Slang: Disparaging and Offensive.

   1. a contemptible woman, especially one who is fat, stupid, lazy, etc.

   2. a woman who has a large number of children or is frequently pregnant.

---

idioms

1. have a cow, to become very angry or upset; throw a fit.

   My mom will have a cow when she hears I'm moving.

2. till / until the cows come home, for a long time; forever.

   You can keep arguing till the cows come home, but I won't change my mind.

cow ² American  

[kou] / kaʊ /

verb (used with object)

1. to frighten with threats, violence, etc.; intimidate; overawe.

   Synonyms:

   bully, scare, terrorize

---

cow ¹ British  

/ kaʊ /

noun

1. the mature female of any species of cattle, esp domesticated cattle

2. the mature female of various other mammals, such as the elephant, whale, and seal

3. (not in technical use) any domestic species of cattle

4. informal a disagreeable woman

5. slang something objectionable (esp in the phrase a fair cow )

6. informal for a very long time; effectively for ever

---

cow ² British  

/ kaʊ /

verb

1. (tr) to frighten or overawe, as with threats

---

cow More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing cow

• cash cow
• holy cow
• sacred cow
• till the cows come home

---

Other Word Forms

• cowlike
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of cow¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English cou, cu, Old English cuu, cū; cognate with German Kuh, Dutch koe, Old Norse kȳr, Sanskrit gáuḥ “ox, cow,” Latin bōs “ox, cow,” Greek boûs “ox, cow”; cf. bovine, gaur

Origin of cow²

First recorded in 1610–20; perhaps from Old Norse kūga “to oppress, cow”; compare Norwegian kue “to cow”

Explanation

If it lives on a farm, makes a mooing sound, and produces milk, it is probably a cow. Most people would immediately identify a cow, the large, cud-chewing female of what is known as "cattle." Cows are typically domesticated farm animals, though the females of wilder bovine relatives are also called cows. The verb form of cow, "to frighten or subdue," comes from the docile nature of most cows — they are fairly easy to intimidate, or easily cowed. The Old English root is cu, from the Indo-European gwous, which might have developed from the sound that cows make.

Example Sentences

Political advertising has long been a cash cow for local television stations in an election year, but that source of income may be drying up.

From MarketWatch • May 21, 2026

“We were deeply concerned by the reported mistreatment of some cows captured on video at Agresti Calf Ranch during a separate cow operation,” the company said in an email.

From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2026

The Appalachian springsnail is basically a tiny aquatic cow that mows over algae and other organic matter, sucking them up and extracting whatever nutrients it can.

From Slate • Apr. 27, 2026

He also sold food items on behalf of prison staff, like cow skin, popularly known as "ponmo", and baked snacks.

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026

The moose, a large cow, turns to look at me when my headlight comes across her, then turns away.

From "Woodsong" by Gary Paulsen

Related Words

• bludgeon
• bully
• daunt
• dishearten
• embarrass
• faze
• frighten
• rattle
• strong-arm
• subdue
• terrorize
• unnerve