Cow vs Sow - What's the difference?

Sow is a synonym of cow.

In transitive terms the difference between cow and sow

is that cow is to intimidate; to daunt the spirits or courage of. Found primarily in the passive voice.sow is to scatter, disperse, or plant (seeds).

As an acronym COW

is acronym of w:Copy-on-write|copy-on-write|lang=en.

cow

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) (m), (m), from (etyl) .

Noun

(wikipedia cow) (en-noun) (see usage notes)

A female domesticated ox or other bovine, especially an adult after she has had a calf.

More generally, any domestic bovine regardless of sex or age.

The meat of such animals as food (more commonly called beef).

The female of larger species of mammal, including bovines, moose, whales, seals, hippos, rhinos, manatees, and elephants.

(derogatory, informal) A woman who is considered despicable in some way, especially one considered to be fat, lazy, ugly, argumentative, mean or spiteful.

(informal) Anything that is annoyingly difficult, awkward or graceless.

That website is a real cow to navigate.

(informal) A conniption fit or hissy fit; a state of agitation .

(mining) A wedge or brake to stop a machine or car; a chock.

(Knight)

Usage notes

The plural cows is the normal plural for multiple individuals, while cattle is used in a more collective sense. The umlaut plurals ky, kye and kine are archaic and no longer in common use.

Synonyms

* bitch * bastard, bitch, bugger (UK)

Antonyms

* (female domesticated ox or other bovine) bull

Derived terms

(terms derived from "cow") * cowboy * cow catcher, cowcatcher * cow corner * cowgirl * cowherd * cowmilk, cow milk * cowpoke * cowpool * cowpuncher * cowshed * cow shot * cow tipping * cash cow * have a cow * holy cow * sacred cow

Etymology 2

Probably from (etyl) .

Verb

(en verb)

To intimidate; to daunt the spirits or courage of.

Con artists are not cowed by the law.

* Shakespeare

To vanquish a people already cowed .

Etymology 3

Noun

(en noun)

(UK, dialect) A chimney cowl.

* 1836 , Charles Dickens, The Pickwick Papers ?

Who could live to gaze from day to day on bricks and slates, who had once felt the influence of a scene like this? Who could continue to exist, where there are no cows but the cows on the chimneypots; nothing redolent of Pan but pan-tiles;

Anagrams

* (l) English nouns with irregular plurals

sow

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) sowe, from (etyl) sugu, from (etyl) (ae)). See also swine .

Noun

(en-noun)

A female pig.

A channel that conducts molten metal to molds.

A mass of metal solidified in a mold.

* 1957 , H.R. Schubert, History of the British Iron and Steel Industry , p. 160:

In England, it was generally termed a 'sow' , if the weight was above 10 cwts., if below, it was termed a 'pig' from which the present term 'pig iron' is derived.

(derogatory, slang) A contemptible, often fat woman.

A sowbug.

(military) A kind of covered shed, formerly used by besiegers in filling up and passing the ditch of a besieged place, sapping and mining the wall, etc.

(Craig)

Usage notes

The plural form swine is now obsolete in this sense.

Synonyms

* (mass of metal solidified in a mold) ingot * (contemptible woman) bitch, cow

Derived terms

* make a silk purse of a sow's ear

Etymology 2

From (etyl) sowen, from (etyl) .

Verb

To scatter, disperse, or plant (seeds).

When I had sown the field, the day's work was over.

As you sow , so shall you reap.

(figurative) To spread abroad; to propagate.

* Addison

And sow dissension in the hearts of brothers.

(figurative) To scatter over; to besprinkle.

* Sir M. Hale

The intellectual faculty is a goodly field, and it is the worst husbandry in the world to sow it with trifles.

* Milton

[He] sowed with stars the heaven.

Synonyms

* plant, scatter

Derived terms

* reap what one sows *

Anagrams

* English heteronyms English irregular verbs English terms with multiple etymologies