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Cowing: meaning, definitions and examples

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cowing

 

[ ˈkaʊ.ɪŋ ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

animal behavior

Cowing is the act of intimidating or frightening someone or something, often associated with animals, particularly in how they may react to a threatening presence. In terms of livestock, it can refer to animals being submissive or fearful due to a perceived threat.

Synonyms

frightening, intimidating, scaring

Examples of usage

  • The dog was cowing in the corner during the thunderstorm.
  • The cat started cowing when the large dog approached.
  • The bull was cowing after being confronted by the intruder.
  • Her tone of voice was cowing the children into silence.

Translations

Translations of the word "cowing" in other languages:

🇵🇹 mugindo

🇮🇳 गाय का चिल्लाना

🇩🇪 muhend

🇮🇩 mengembik

🇺🇦 мукання

🇵🇱 ryczenie

🇯🇵 鳴き声

🇫🇷 meugler

🇪🇸 mugir

🇹🇷 mığlamak

🇰🇷 울음

🇸🇦 خوار

🇨🇿 hřebčící

🇸🇰 hřebčící

🇨🇳 哞叫

🇸🇮 muhanje

🇮🇸 múgandi

🇰🇿 мүйіздеу

🇬🇪 მუცა

🇦🇿 müğayir

🇲🇽 mugir

Word origin

The term 'cowing' originates from the early 14th century, derived from the Old English word 'cū', meaning 'cow'. Initially, it was related to the behavior of cows, particularly when they felt threatened or scared. The term evolved over time, taking on a more generalized meaning of intimidation beyond just livestock. The use of the word reflects a common phenomenon in both human and animal interactions, where fear plays a significant role. Cowing as a verb captures this dynamic vividly, expressing the action of instilling fear or submission. The social dynamics of dominance and submission, often seen in herd behavior among animals, are encapsulated in this term, signifying an important aspect of both animal and human psychology.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #41,268, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.