Etymology Map
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Cow

3 stages from Proto-Germanic to English.

Today it means a fully grown female of domestic cattle

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

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

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.