cow killer: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, Colloquial, Regional
Quick answer
What does “cow killer” mean?
A common name for the velvet ant (a type of wingless wasp), due to its extremely painful sting which is mythically said to be strong enough to kill a cow.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A common name for the velvet ant (a type of wingless wasp), due to its extremely painful sting which is mythically said to be strong enough to kill a cow.
Informal or folk name for any large, hairy, brightly colored wasp or ant-like insect with a powerful sting. Can be used metaphorically for someone or something that causes extreme discomfort or trouble.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is almost exclusively American, particularly in the Southern and Southwestern U.S. It is rarely, if ever, used in British English, where the insect is known as a 'velvet ant' or 'cow ant'.
Connotations
In American usage, it connotes rural life, folklore, and a hyperbolic sense of danger. In British contexts, it would likely be misunderstood or seen as an American regionalism.
Frequency
Very low frequency in UK; low to moderate in specific rural regions of the US.
Grammar
How to Use “cow killer” in a Sentence
be called a cow killerbe stung by a cow killerrefer to X as a cow killerVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cow killer” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [Not applicable as verb]
American English
- [Not applicable as verb]
adverb
British English
- [Not applicable as adverb]
American English
- [Not applicable as adverb]
adjective
British English
- [Not commonly used adjectivally]
American English
- He got a cow-killer sting. (informal, attributive use)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Rarely used outside of entomology or folklore studies; the scientific name 'velvet ant' is preferred.
Everyday
Used in casual conversation, often as a warning or in storytelling about encounters with insects.
Technical
Used informally by entomologists or pest control professionals when communicating with the public.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cow killer”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cow killer”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cow killer”
- Using it as a formal term. Believing it refers to an actual threat to cattle. Confusing it with a true ant.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. This is a folkloric exaggeration. The sting of the velvet ant is intensely painful to humans but is not lethal to large animals like cows.
No, it is an American regional term. In British English, the insect is known as a 'velvet ant'.
It functions almost exclusively as a compound noun.
Use 'velvet ant' or the scientific family name 'Mutillidae'.
A common name for the velvet ant (a type of wingless wasp), due to its extremely painful sting which is mythically said to be strong enough to kill a cow.
Cow killer: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkaʊ ˌkɪlə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkaʊ ˌkɪlər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None specific to this term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'COW' (big animal) + 'KILLER' (something that kills). It's a nickname for a bug with a sting so painful it feels like it could kill something as big as a cow.
Conceptual Metaphor
INTENSE PAIN IS LETHAL FORCE; A SMALL THREAT IS A LARGE THREAT (hyperbole).
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'cow killer'?