cud

American  

[kuhd] / kʌd /

noun

1. the portion of food that a ruminant returns from the first stomach to the mouth to chew a second time.

2. Dialect. quid.

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idioms

1. chew one's / the cud, to meditate or ponder; ruminate.

cud British  

/ kʌd /

noun

1. partially digested food regurgitated from the first stomach of cattle and other ruminants to the mouth for a second chewing

2. to reflect or think over something

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cud Scientific  

/ kŭd /

1. Food that has been partly digested and brought up from the first stomach to the mouth again for further chewing by ruminants, such as cattle and sheep.

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Etymology

Origin of cud

before 1000; Middle English; Old English cudu, variant of cwiodu, cwidu; akin to Old High German quiti glue, Sanskrit jatu resin, gum. See quid ¹

Example Sentences

She said it was "so lovely that anybody would bother to come up and chew the cud with you for a while"

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

As with most ruminants, cattle make the most of a paltry diet, converting cud, grains, and crop waste into muscle and milk.

From Scientific American • Nov. 7, 2023

As with most ruminants, cattle make the most of a paltry diet, converting cud, grains and crop waste into muscle and milk.

From Salon • Nov. 2, 2023

He can chew on his voice like a cow chews its cud.

From New York Times • Jun. 2, 2023

Now and then an animal moved its jaws in an attempt to chew cud.

From "The House of the Scorpion" by Nancy Farmer