heifer

/ˈhɛfər/

/ˈhɛfə/

Other forms: heifers

A heifer is a young cow. If you work on a farm, you might be tempted to adopt the smallest heifer as your pet, based on cuteness alone.

Heifers are female cows who have not yet given birth to a calf. Farmers can raise heifers for dairy or for meat. In the 1830s, heifer, which is pronounced "HEFF-er," was first used as slang for "woman" or "girl." Since then, it took on the meaning of a female who is obese. It is very rude to single people out because of the way they look and so heifer should never be used.

Definitions of heifer

1. noun

   young cow
   type of:

   young mammal

   any immature mammal

   cow, moo-cow

   female of domestic cattle: "`moo-cow' is a child's term"