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Cow vs Hen - What's the difference?

cow | hen |

As an acronym cow

is (computing).

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
    See also
    * (meat) chicken, pig, pork, goat, lamb, mutton
    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

    See also

    * * beef * bovine * bull * calf * cattle * heifer * steer * low * moo * ox * veal

    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

    hen

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) henne, heonne, hinne, from earlier henene, heonenen, henen, from (etyl) heonan, hionan, heonane, . See also (l).

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • (dialectal) Hence.

    • Etymology 2

    From , or a variant of hench.

    Verb

    (henn)
  • (dialectal) To throw.

    • Etymology 3

    From (etyl), from (etyl) henn, .

    Alternative forms

    * (l) (obsolete)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A female bird.
  • (specifically ) A female chicken, especially one kept for its eggs.
  • * , title=The Mirror and the Lamp
    • , chapter=2 citation , passage=She was a fat, round little woman, richly apparelled in velvet and lace, […]; and the way she laughed, cackling like a hen , the way she talked to the waiters and the maid, […]—all these unexpected phenomena impelled one to hysterical mirth, and made one class her with such immortally ludicrous types as Ally Sloper, the Widow Twankey, or Miss Moucher.}}
  • (slang) A woman.
  • (informal) The woman whose impending marriage is being celebrated at a hen night.
    • Derived terms
    * henbane * hen harrier * hen party * henpecked * mother hen
    See also
    * * broody

    Anagrams

    * * 1000 English basic words ----