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

The team documented sea cow remains at more than 170 separate locations across the site.

From Science Daily • Dec. 12, 2025

In re-creating that vanished historical system that included the Steller’s sea cow, we could see a more diverse forest where the understory competed better with kelp.

From Scientific American • Oct. 15, 2023

Remember Steller’s sea cow or that ground-dwelling pigeon, the dodo?

From Slate • Feb. 20, 2023

A "sea cow" that evoked tales of mermaids is being driven to the edge of extinction, conservation experts warn.

From BBC • Dec. 9, 2022

I tell him about the Save the Manatee Club, and the sea cow named Tubby that our class adopted last year.

From "Merci Suárez Changes Gears" by Meg Medina