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cow 1 (kou)
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n.
1. The mature female of cattle of the genus Bos.
2. The mature female of certain other large animals, such as elephants, moose, or whales.
3. A domesticated bovine of either sex or any age.
Idioms:
have a cow
Slang To become amazed, angered, or upset: He had a cow when he saw the mess we made.
till the cows come home Informal
For a very long time; indefinitely: They could argue till the cows come home and still not reach an agreement.
[Middle English cou, from Old English cū; see gwou- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]
cowy adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 
cow 2 (kou)
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tr.v. cowed, cow·ing, cows
To frighten or subdue with threats or a show of force. See Synonyms at intimidate.
[Probably of Scandinavian origin.]
cowed·ly (-ĭd-lē) adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
 

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

    Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

    Indo-European Roots

    Semitic Roots

    The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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