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Sow vs Ewe - What's the difference?

sow | ewe |

As nouns the difference between sow and ewe

is that sow is a female pig while ewe is the ewe language.

As a verb sow

is to scatter, disperse, or plant (seeds).

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

    See also

    * boar * hog * pig

    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 *

    ewe

    English

    (Sheep)

    Noun

    (en-noun)
  • A female sheep, as opposed to a ram.
  • Usage notes

    * Because of its pronunciation and despite its spelling, this word most commonly takes the indefinite article (a) rather than (an).

    See also

    * ram

    Anagrams

    * eew * wee ----