Cow
/kaʊ/noun
A domesticated bovine animal, often raised for milk or meat.
Did you know?In ancient mythologies, cows were often seen as sacred symbols of motherhood and abundance, revered across various cultures as divine caretakers.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gʲow
“to call or to cry out, often related to the sound of cattle.”
Old English
Old English
cū
“a female bovine, indicative of nurturing and domesticity.”
Proto-Germanic
Proto-Germanic
*kwō
“a term for a cow, referring to the female of the species.”
Middle English
Middle English
cou
“the modern form emerging, still holding the meaning of a female bovine.”
Modern English
Modern English
cow
“the standard term for domesticated female bovine animals.”