What does cow mean in British slang?

In British slang, the word “cow” can have a few different meanings depending on the context. At its core, calling someone a “cow” is meant to be an insult, implying that the person is overweight, lazy, annoying, or unpleasant in some way.

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Cow as an Insult

“Cow” is commonly used as a derogatory or insulting term in British slang. If someone calls a woman a “cow,” they are implying that she is overweight, unattractive, lazy, or otherwise unappealing. For example:

“She’s such a cow, all she does is sit on the couch watching TV all day.”
“I can’t believe he’s dating her, she’s an absolute cow.”
“Don’t be such a lazy cow, get off your bum and help me clean the house.”

When used this way, “cow” is meant to insult a woman’s appearance or behavior. It suggests she is physically unfeminine, overweight, and lazy. The comparison is to a slow, lumbering farm animal.

Cow as a Term for an Annoying Woman

“Cow” can also be used to describe a woman who is annoying, interfering, or unpleasant. For example:

“I wish my neighbor would stop nagging me about my garden, she’s such a cow.”

“Janet is such a cow, she’s always gossiping about people behind their backs.”
“My mother-in-law is a total cow, she’s always butting into my marriage and telling me what to do.”

In this sense, “cow” suggests the woman is meddlesome, gossipy, nagging, or constantly interfering where she isn’t wanted. It implies stubborn and obnoxious behavior, like an animal that can’t be controlled.

Cow as a Term for a Spiteful Woman

“Cow” can also mean a female who is purposely cruel, spiteful, or malicious. For example:

“I can’t believe Mary told everyone my secret at the party, she’s such a cow!”
“Helen completely sabotaged my work presentation and got me in trouble with the boss, what a cow.”

“Stop being such a cow and spreading rumors about me, it’s mean and hurtful.”

Here, “cow” suggests willful, purposeful unkindness and cruelty. The woman is being intentionally hurtful, catty, petty, or malicious, like a bull in a china shop.

Cow as a General Insult

While “cow” is typically aimed at women, it can also be used as a general insult towards men or women. In this case, it retains the implications of laziness, obstinance, interference, spite, or general unpleasantness. For example:

“You forgot to pick me up again, you inconsiderate cow!”
“That bloke pushed in front of me in line, what an impatient cow.”
“Stop whining and do your chores for once, you moaning cow.”

As a general insult, “cow” is not necessarily gendered. It broadly suggests objectionable behavior deserving of criticism or condemnation.

Other Animal Comparisons

“Cow” belongs to a class of insults drawing unflattering comparisons to animals. Other examples include:

Pig – Someone who is greedy, dirty, overweight or gluttonous.

Dog – Someone who is ugly or behaves poorly.
Bitch – A spiteful, unpleasant, or disloyal woman.
Weasel – Someone who is sneaky, conniving, or untrustworthy.

Rat – A person who betrays or deserts others.
Snake – Someone who is treacherous, deceitful, or malicious.

Like these other terms, “cow” relies on comparing human vices and failings to animal characteristics.

History and Origins

Calling a woman a “cow” originated in the early 1800s. One early printed example comes from the 1825 novel Physiology in London: Containing the Complete Guide to Men of Pleasure in the English Capital:

“Fat, fair and forty,” is the general description of a cow.

Here, the author uses “cow” to denote an overweight, plain, middle-aged woman. The comparison to cattle and livestock grew from there.

Using “cow” as an insult drew from existing associations between women and the term “heifer.” Heifer referred to a young female cow that had not produced a calf. Calling a woman a heifer suggested she was plump, foolish, and possibly promiscuous.

The term “cow” built on these connotations while adding implications that the woman was coarse, lazy, interfering, and malicious. It became a flexible way to criticize the perceived shortcomings of women’s appearance and conduct.

Regional Variations

Using “cow” as an insult is most common in British English slang. However, similar usages exist across the English-speaking world:

In Australia, “moo cow” can be used to describe an overweight or unattractive woman.

In New Zealand, “cow” retains connotations of laziness and obstinance when directed at women.
In Ireland, “cow” can refer to a spiteful or interfering woman.
In Jamaica, “cow” is sometimes used to insult women deemed ugly or promiscuous.

In the U.S. and Canada, uses of “cow” are less common, with words like “bitch” or “pig” used more frequently as insults.

However, throughout the Anglosphere, comparing women to cattle taps into similar connotations of broad physique, mindless behavior, stubborn interference, and willful malice.

Usage in British Culture

Throughout modern British culture, “cow” appears as a derogatory epithet used to criticize women’s perceived flaws and misdeeds:

In literature, characters may use “cow” as an insult when bickering with or disparaging female antagonists. For example, an argument between sisters in an A.S. Byatt novel escalates to name-calling with the word “cow.”
In films and television shows set in contemporary Britain, “cow” gets hurled as a dramatic personal insult. For instance, in an episode of Coronation Street, a furious character berates her sister as a “poisonous cow.”
Comedians like Catherine Tate portray over-the-top female characters that embody “cow” stereotypes (overweight, meddlesome, vulgar). Audiences recognize these caricatures as exaggerated “cows.”

Pop or rock lyrics may use “cow” to complain about bothersome girlfriends who nag, interfere, or cruelly betray the singer.
Editorials, blogs, and social media posts reprimand public figures for objectionable behavior by calling them “cows.” For example, a gossip blogger dubs an actress caught shoplifting a “klepto cow.”

In these contexts, speakers evoke the imagery of an unappealing animal to deliver sharply derisive commentary on a woman’s looks or conduct.

Criticism and Changing Attitudes

In recent years, derogatorily calling women “cows” has faced increased criticism and stigma:

Feminist voices argue the term promotes regressive, sexist attitudes by reducing women to ugly animals based on their physique or strong opinions.
Fat activism advocates point out the term’s shaming of overweight bodies and perpetuation of unrealistic beauty standards.

Some mental health professionals associate “cow” name-calling with bullying, warning about detrimental impacts on self-esteem and emotional well-being.
Progressive language guides and diversity policies identify “cow’ as an inherently misogynistic insult to avoid, like “bitch” or “slut.”

In response to these perspectives, many younger British women reject “cow” as uncomfortably sexist, body-shaming, and derogatory. However, it remains entrenched in some streams of British slang and continues to appear in male banter, comedy, and criticisms of women’s activist speech.

Conclusion

In summary, calling a woman a “cow” in British slang relies on unflattering animal comparisons to criticize her perceived flaws and misbehavior. While the insult has a long history, contemporary attitudes are shifting as many question its sexist assumptions and cruelty. However, “cow” continues to moo within certain contexts of British insults and derision directed toward disfavored women.