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cow
cow. The mature female of cattle appears often in Celtic narrative and visual art, although not so differently from other European traditions. If cattle were once worshipped, as we believe, their earlier status attaches more to the male of the species; see BULL. Cattle were always valued possessions, among both human and otherworldly society; this was especially true of herding societies, such as that of early Ireland. The agnomen of Brian Bórama (Boru) testifies to his wealth [Ir. bórama, cow-countings (?), i.e. tribute]. A bóaire [cow-noble, stock owner] was a freeman. No evidence of a cult of the cow survives, although it is suggested in the minor Continental goddess Damona and the etymology of Boand, goddess of the Boyne. The Welsh Triads speak of three prominent cows of Britain, implying a legend about cows not known to us.
Important female figures having strong associations with cows are Boand, Brigit, Flidais, Mórrígan, and Verbeia. The magical cow of Irish folk tradition was Glas Ghaibhleann, and its counterpart in Scottish Gaelic tradition was Glas Ghaibhnann. The hornless fairy cattle of the Scottish Highlands are the Crodh Mara. The fairy cattle of Wales are known as gwartheg y llyn. Otherworldly or fairy cows are usually thought to be white with red ears. The Druimin Donn Dílis: The Faithful Brown, Whitebacked Cow, is a poetic name for Ireland. According to Irish place-name legend, three cows once emerged from the sea, Bó Finn [white cow], Bó Dub [black cow], and Bó Derg [red cow]. They scattered across the island, the black going south, the red going north, and the white going straight across; this accounts for the many Irish town names beginning ‘Bó-’. The word for cow in both Old and Modern Irish is bó ScG bò; Manx booa; W bu, buwch; Corn. bugh; Bret. ejen [the animal], bevin (the meat of the animal). See also BULL. |
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JAMES MacKILLOP. "cow." A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JAMES MacKILLOP. "cow." A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O70-cow.html JAMES MacKILLOP. "cow." A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. 2004. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O70-cow.html |
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cow
cow1 / kou/ • n. a fully grown female animal of a domesticated breed of ox, used as a source of milk or beef: a dairy cow. See cattle. ∎ (loosely) a domestic bovine animal, regardless of sex or age. ∎ (in farming) a female domestic bovine animal that has borne more than one calf. Compare with heifer. ∎ the female of certain other large animals, for example elephant, rhinoceros, whale, seal, or reindeer. ∎ inf., derog. a woman, esp. a fat or stupid one: what does he see in that cow? PHRASES: have a cow inf. become angry, excited, or agitated. till the cows come home inf. for an indefinitely long time. cow2 • v. [tr.] (usu. be cowed) cause (someone) to submit to one's wishes by intimidation: the intellectuals had been cowed into silence. |
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"cow." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "cow." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-cow.html "cow." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-cow.html |
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cow
cow a cow is the emblem of St Bridget of Ireland and St Perpetua, a 3rd-century martyr of Carthage, who was gored by a mad heifer in her martyrdom.
In Egyptian mythology, the goddess Hathor may be represented as a cow; in Greek mythology, Io was turned into a heifer by Zeus to protect her from Hera. why buy a cow when milk is so cheap? an argument for choosing the least troublesome alternative; frequently used as an argument against marriage. The saying is recorded from the mid 17th century. With why keep a dog, and bark yourself?, it is one of the few proverbs in the form of a rhetorical question. (Compare also, a slice off a cut loaf isn't missed.) See also a bellowing cow soon forgets her calf, better a good cow than a cow of a good kind, sacred cow, three acres and a cow. |
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "cow." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "cow." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-cow.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "cow." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-cow.html |
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cow
cow 1 female bovine animal. OE. cū = OS. kō (Du. koe), OHG. kuo (G. kuh), ON. kýr :- Gmc. *kō(u)z :- IE. *gwōus, whence also Skr. gāú-, Arm. kov, Gr. boûs, L. bōs, OIr. bó, Latv. gùovs. The normal descendant of the mutated OE. pl. cȳ is north. kye; the form kine (now arch.) descends from a ME. (XIII) extension of this with -n from the weak decl.
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T. F. HOAD. "cow." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "cow." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-cow.html T. F. HOAD. "cow." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-cow.html |
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cow
cow Mature female cattle that produce more than one calf. It also applies to other mammals, such as elephants and seals.
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"cow." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "cow." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-cow.html "cow." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-cow.html |
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Cow
Cowa bunch of twigs; a birch or besom of twigs. Examples: cow of heather, 1651; of birch; of broom; of twigs. |
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"Cow." Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. 1985. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Cow." Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. 1985. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2505300465.html "Cow." Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. 1985. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2505300465.html |
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cow
cow 2 depress with fear. XVII. prob. — ON. kúga oppress, tyrannize over.
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Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "cow." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "cow." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-cow1.html T. F. HOAD. "cow." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-cow1.html |
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cow
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"cow." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "cow." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-cow.html "cow." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-cow.html |
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cow
cow
•allow, avow, Bilbao, Bissau, bough, bow, bow-wow, brow, cacao, chow, ciao, cow, dhow, Dow, endow, Foochow, Frau, Hangzhou, Hough, how, Howe, kowtow, Lao, Liao, Macao, Macau, miaow, Mindanao, mow, now, ow, Palau, plough (US plow), pow, prow, row, scow, Slough, sough, sow, Tao, thou, vow, wow, Yangshao
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"cow." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "cow." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-cow.html "cow." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-cow.html |
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Cow
Cow character-oriented windows
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FRAN ALEXANDER , PETER BLAIR , JOHN DAINTITH , ALICE GRANDISON , VALERIE ILLINGWORTH , ELIZABETH MARTIN , ANNE STIBBS , JUDY PEARSALL , and SARA TULLOCH. "Cow." The Oxford Dictionary of Abbreviations. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. FRAN ALEXANDER , PETER BLAIR , JOHN DAINTITH , ALICE GRANDISON , VALERIE ILLINGWORTH , ELIZABETH MARTIN , ANNE STIBBS , JUDY PEARSALL , and SARA TULLOCH. "Cow." The Oxford Dictionary of Abbreviations. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O25-Cow.html FRAN ALEXANDER , PETER BLAIR , JOHN DAINTITH , ALICE GRANDISON , VALERIE ILLINGWORTH , ELIZABETH MARTIN , ANNE STIBBS , JUDY PEARSALL , and SARA TULLOCH. "Cow." The Oxford Dictionary of Abbreviations. 1998. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O25-Cow.html |
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