(uncountable, by ellipsis) Mad cow disease; bovine spongiform encephalopathy. / (countable) A cow afflicted with mad cow disease. / Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see mad, cow.

(idiomatic) Something which cannot be tampered with, or criticized, for fear of public outcry. A person, institution, belief system, etc. which, for no reason other than the demands of established social etiquette or popular opinion, should be accorded respect or reverence, and not touched, handled or examined too closely.

(business) A product, service, or enterprise that generates ongoing, high net free cash flows. / (by extension) Someone or something which is a dependable source of appreciable amounts of money.

(cricket, slang) A batting stroke played across the line and aiming to hit the ball towards cow corner.

plural of cash cow

A hitch knot used to attach a rope to an object, comprising a pair of half hitches tied in opposing directions. / Any hitch or bend which slips because it is wrongly tied.

(chiefly US) A fictional pastime wherein a person sneaks up on a sleeping cow and pushes it over.

(humorous) co-worker

A cow kept for milking; a dairy cow. / A cow that produces milk (having had at least one calf). / (figuratively) A cash cow.

Alternative spelling of cowpie