cow-hide
Definition
Noun:
- The hide of a cow: "cow-hide" refers to the skin of a cow, typically used for leather production.
- A whip made from cowhide: "cow-hide" can also mean a whip or strap made from this material, often used for punishment or driving animals.
Verb (chiefly US, colloquial):
- To beat with a cowhide whip: "cow-hide" means to strike or flog someone with a cowhide whip as a form of punishment.
Usage Examples
Noun:
- The saddle was made from high-quality cow-hide. (The saddle was crafted from cow skin.)
- He kept a cow-hide hanging on the barn wall for driving cattle. (A whip made from cow skin.)
Verb:
- The rancher threatened to cow-hide the unruly horse. (To beat the horse with a cowhide whip.)
- In the old days, parents would sometimes cow-hide disobedient children. (To punish by striking with a cowhide whip.)
Advanced Usage
- "to take the cow-hide to someone": an idiomatic expression meaning to severely punish or criticize someone.
- The manager took the cow-hide to the employees who missed the deadline. (The manager harshly reprimanded them.)
Variants and Related Words
- Cowhide (n): a common alternative spelling without the hyphen, referring to the same material.
- The boots are made of genuine cowhide. (Genuine cow skin leather.)
- Cowhiding (n): the act of beating with a cowhide whip.
- Cowhiding was a brutal punishment in historical contexts. (The act of flogging.)
Synonyms
- Leather: material made from animal skin, especially cow skin.
- Hide: the raw or tanned skin of an animal.
- Whip: a strip of leather or cord used for striking.
Phrasal Verbs
- Cow-hide off: to drive away or repel using a cowhide whip.
- The farmer cow-hid off the stray dogs from the pasture. (He drove them away by striking with a whip.)
Related Idioms
- To swing the cow-hide: to exert authority or control harshly.
- The strict teacher was known to swing the cow-hide in class. (To enforce discipline severely.)