heifer
noun/ˈhɛfə(ɹ)/ · /ˈhɛfɚ/
Etymology Inherited from Middle English heyfre, hayfre, heyfer, from Old English hēahfore, hēahfru, of disputed origin; see the Old English entry for more discussion.
1
A young female cow, (particularly) one over one year old but which has not calved.
- And the Lord ſpake vnto Moſes and vnto Aaron, ſaying, This is the ordinance of the Law, which the Lord hath commaunded, ſaying, Speak vnto the childꝛen of Iſrael, that they bꝛing thee a red heifer without ſpot, wherein is no blemiſh, and vpon which neuer came yoke.1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Numbers 19:1–2:
- We muſt be neat; not neat, but cleanly, Captaine: / And yet the Steere, the Heycfer^([sic]), and the Calfe, / Are all call'd Neat.c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii], page 278:
3 more examples
- The breath of the mountain heifer was fragrant as the gales of Sirendiep, by feeding on ſpicy herbs.1769, Firishta, translated by Alexander Dow, Tales translated from the Persian of Inatulla of Delhi, volume I, Dublin: P. and W. Wilson et al., page iv:
- Who are these coming to the sacrifice? To what green altar, O mysterious priest, Lead’st thou that heifer lowing at the skies, And all her silken flanks with garlands drest?1819 May, John Keats, “Ode on a Grecian Urn”, in Lamia, Isabella, the Eve of St. Agnes, and Other Poems, London: […] [Thomas Davison] for Taylor and Hessey, […], published 1820, →OCLC, page 115:
- And when the lorries unload their cows / Their hogs, their heifers and sows / In piles of slithering meat1997, Momus, “My Pervert Doppelganger”, in Ping Pong:
2
Obsolete A wife.
- Her, whom I shall choose for my heicfar.1609 December (first performance), Beniamin Ionson [i.e., Ben Jonson], “Epicoene, or The Silent Woman. A Comœdie. […]”, in The Workes of Beniamin Ionson (First Folio), London: […] Will[iam] Stansby, published 1616, →OCLC, Act II(please specify the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals), page 549:
3
Derogatory, Slang An unattractive or unpleasant woman.
- I have half a mind to marry that heifer, tho' wives are bothersome critters when you have too many of them.1853, T.C. Haliburton, Sam Slick's Wise Saws, volume II, page 282:
- Stop your crying, heifer, I don't need all that, I got a job for you, the braided-up pimp is back!2000, Mystikal, Shake Ya Ass:
1 more example
- My hand was aching to slap that silly heifer. I told her to take her trifling ass down to Burger King and get herself a job flipping burgers...2001, Glenda Howard, Cita's World:
- Derived terms
- heiferbud, heifer-bud, heifer dust, heiferette, heiferhood, heifer yearling, Mullingar heifer, plough with one's heifer, plow with one's heifer