Cow Slang
The
Old English word cow came through Proto-Germanic tongues from
Proto-Indo-European. Etymologists aren’t
sure, but mostly assume it is an onomatopoeic term mimicking the lowing of
cattle.
Cow-related slang abounds:
Cow-feed is a British Armed services term meaning salad or raw vegetables.
Since
1955 the term cowie has referred to a western film.
British
and American cyclists refer to handlebars as cow-horns.
Cow-pat, cow-pattie & cow pie arrived in the language in
the 1950s, meaning a single dropping from a cow, calf, or bull.
Cowyard-confetti is an Australian term born in 1920, meaning nonsense. Not surprisingly, ten years later cow-confetti was born – another
Australian term, a kinder, gentler term for the crasser, tangentially cow-related
term bullshit.
In
cricket, the terms cow-corner & cow-shot refer to an oft-ignored segment
of the field, & a shot into or through that area. This was born of the
thought that cows could graze there unmolested during a game.
Though cowboy is most likely derived from caballero, it looks as though it's a cow-related
term. Cowboy
has many meanings: a bow-legged man, a minor criminal given to
violence, a know-it all, a young, inexperienced driver, & someone unqualified or irresponsible. Since 1920, members of the Royal
British Navy have referred to baked beans as cowboys (synonyms include
prairie
rash & yippee beans).
In
Canada, a farmer’s straw hat can be referred to as a cow’s breakfast.
Which
of these cow-related terms are new to you? Any other thoughts regarding the
use or abuse of the word cow?
My thanks go out to this week’s
sources: OED, Etymonline, The New Partridge Dictionary of Slang &
Unconventional English,
& Wordnik
The Wordmonger never ceases to amaze! I only knew cow pie and of course cowboy, but not in the meaning of baked beans. It was odd to discover when I went to England that the Brits consider baked beans--which they eat on toast--to be American. The most popular brand is Heinz, but they're not at all like our pork and beans. More of a tomatoey sauce than our molasses-y Boston baked beans, and not tangy like our barbeque beans.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of a straw hat being a cow's breakfast.
What a fun word, Charlie. I never knew most of those terms. I do know about cow pie. When we were kids, my two younger brothers threw dried cow pies at each other. Bored, they gathered up fresher and fresher pies until I had to step in and tell them to knock it off. Ha!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun word, Charlie. I never knew most of those terms. I do know about cow pie. When we were kids, my two younger brothers threw dried cow pies at each other. Bored, they gathered up fresher and fresher pies until I had to step in and tell them to knock it off. Ha!
ReplyDeleteHey Anne & Jean Ann, Nothing like a cow pie slinging party for a couple of brothers, & I'm with you Anne, I hadn't previously heard that cowboys & baked beans were synonymous.
ReplyDeleteWell...you got me this time. I have never heard of most of these. Like Anne, just cowpie and cowboy. And, I have no anecdotes relating to either one of them. Aren't I boring this morning. But, you never are!
ReplyDeleteChristine,
ReplyDeleteYou & your Treegirls are never boring.