cow

Where does the word "cow" come from? It comes from Proto-Germanic kwōz, passing through Old English before entering English (1500s).

Cow’s story begins in Proto-Germanic: kwōz meant “cow.” From the same ancient root as Latin 'bōs' and Sanskrit 'gáuḥ'. By 700s-1000s, the word had taken hold in Old English as cū. Its old plural 'cȳ' later became 'kine'. It reached English by 1500s as cow. Latin 'bōs' came back through Norman French as 'beef', so English kept 'cow' for the animal and 'beef' for its meat. Today, cow means a fully grown female of domestic cattle.

1. Stage 1 · Proto-Germanic · ancient kwōz "cow", from the same ancient root as Latin 'bōs' and Sanskrit 'gáuḥ'.
2. Stage 2 · Old English · 700s-1000s cū "cow", its old plural 'cȳ' later became 'kine'.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1500s cow "cow", Latin 'bōs' came back through Norman French as 'beef', so English kept 'cow' for the animal and 'beef' for its meat.