sea cow

American  

noun

1. any sirenian, as the manatee or dugong.

2. Obsolete. the hippopotamus.

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sea cow British  

noun

1. any sirenian mammal, such as a dugong or manatee

2. an archaic name for walrus

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Etymology

Origin of sea cow

First recorded in 1605–15

Compare meaning

How does sea-cow compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• sea cow vs. manatee

Example Sentences

Natalie was just under five feet tall, and the sea cow was twice as long as that—and wide enough to swallow her whole, if it hadn’t been a plant eater.

From Literature

Newly examined fossils from Qatar show that sea cows living more than 20 million years ago shaped their environments in much the same way.

From Science Daily

Fifteen million years ago, now-extinct species of dolphins, whales and large sea cows roamed the world’s oceans, topping the underwater food chain.

From Salon

Manatees are large aquatic mammals commonly known as sea cows.

From BBC

The hippopotamus-sized grazer is thought to be related to today's sea cows, manatees and their terrestrial relatives, the elephants.

From Science Daily