cowhide

[kou-hahyd]

noun

the hide of a cow.

the leather made from it.

a strong, flexible whip made of rawhide or of braided leather.

cowhides, Informal. a pair of boots or shoes, especially those made of cowhide.

verb (used with object), cow·hid·ed, cow·hid·ing.

to whip with a cowhide.

Origin of cowhide

First recorded in 1630–40; cow¹ + hide²

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for cowhide

Historical Examples of cowhide

Adams armed himself with a cowhide, and watched for his victim.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;
Various
Ye can cowhide me if ye wants to, but don't say nothin' against my Daddy!
Tess of the Storm Country
Grace Miller White
The principal rolled up his sleeves, and took the cowhide in his hand.
Breaking Away
Oliver Optic
"I am in no humor to trifle with you," said he, opening a desk, and taking out a cowhide.
Breaking Away
Oliver Optic
Then take this cowhide and give your companion a taste of its quality.
The Young Acrobat of the Great North American Circus
Horatio Alger Jr.

British Dictionary definitions for cowhide

cowhide

noun

the hide of a cow

the leather made from such a hide

Also called: cowskin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012