cow cocky: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
lowcolloquial, informal, regional
Quick answer
What does “cow cocky” mean?
A dairy farmer, specifically one who owns a small dairy farm and milks cows.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A dairy farmer, specifically one who owns a small dairy farm and milks cows.
Primarily used in Australian and New Zealand English to refer to a dairy farmer, often with connotations of a modest, hard-working, independent operator, historically on a small property. The term 'cocky' is Australian/New Zealand slang for a farmer, derived from 'cockatoo farmer' (a small-scale farmer).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Not used in British or American English. It is specific to Australian and New Zealand English.
Connotations
N/A in British/American contexts. In Aus/NZ, it can have a neutral or slightly romanticised, historical connotation.
Frequency
Virtually zero frequency in British or American English. Low to moderate historical/regional frequency in Australia and New Zealand.
Grammar
How to Use “cow cocky” in a Sentence
The [ADJ] cow cocky [VERB]...He is/was a cow cocky.to work as a cow cockyVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Not used, except potentially in historical or sociological studies of Australasian rural life.
Everyday
Used in informal conversation in rural Australia and New Zealand, particularly among older generations. Recognisable but not common in general everyday speech.
Technical
Not used in technical agricultural contexts; 'dairy farmer' or 'producer' is standard.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cow cocky”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cow cocky”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cow cocky”
- Using it in formal writing.
- Using it outside Australian/NZ contexts without explanation.
- Treating 'cocky' as an adjective meaning arrogant in this compound.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not offensive. It is a colloquial, sometimes affectionate term for a dairy farmer in Australia and New Zealand.
While the term is historically male-gendered due to traditional farming roles, it can be applied to any dairy farmer in modern usage, though 'dairy farmer' is more common and neutral.
A 'cow cocky' typically runs a small dairy farm. A 'station owner' in Australia/New Zealand usually owns a very large livestock property (station) for sheep or cattle, often for meat, not specifically dairy.
'Cocky' is short for 'cockatoo farmer'. It was originally Australian slang for a small-scale farmer (like a cockatoo pecking at small seeds), and was combined with the type of farming, e.g., cow cocky, wheat cocky.
A dairy farmer, specifically one who owns a small dairy farm and milks cows.
Cow cocky is usually colloquial, informal, regional in register.
Cow cocky: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkaʊ ˌkɒki/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkaʊ ˌkɑːki/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[none specific to this exact term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a COW and a COCKAtOO (where 'cocky' comes from) sitting together on a farm fence. The bird is watching the cow being milked.
Conceptual Metaphor
OCCUPATION AS IDENTITY (The person is labelled by their core activity). SMALL-SCALE AS 'BIRD-LIKE' (from 'cockatoo', implying a small, scrappy farmer).
Practice
Quiz
In which country would you be most likely to hear the term 'cow cocky' used naturally?