cowk: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low / Obsolete / DialectalInformal, Regional, Archaic
Quick answer
What does “cowk” mean?
To retch or make the sound of retching.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To retch or make the sound of retching; to feel or express strong disgust.
To make a choking or gagging sound, often in reaction to something unpleasant or revolting.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is virtually unknown in American English. In British English, it survives only in certain Northern and Scottish dialects.
Connotations
Strong physical disgust, vulgarity, or crude humour.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary usage. More likely found in historical texts or regional speech.
Grammar
How to Use “cowk” in a Sentence
[Subject] cowks[Subject] cowks at [Object]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cowk” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The stench from the bin made him cowk.
- I'll cowk if I have to eat that tripe.
American English
- (Not used in AmE; a US speaker would say 'gag' or 'retch')
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverbial form)
American English
- (No standard adverbial form)
adjective
British English
- (No standard adjectival form)
American English
- (No standard adjectival form)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Not used, except perhaps in linguistic or dialect studies.
Everyday
Very rare; potential use in informal, expressive speech among older speakers in specific UK regions.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cowk”
- Using it in formal writing.
- Assuming it is a standard synonym for 'cough'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is very rare, considered dialectal or archaic. Most native speakers will not know it.
They are completely different. 'Cough' is a throat-clearing respiratory action. 'Cowk' is the sound or action of retching, related to nausea and vomiting.
For learners of English, it is not a productive word to learn for active use. It is more important as a recognition word for understanding very specific dialects or older texts.
No, it is a standalone verb with no common noun or adjective forms in modern usage.
To retch or make the sound of retching.
Cowk is usually informal, regional, archaic in register.
Cowk: in British English it is pronounced /kaʊk/, and in American English it is pronounced /kaʊk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's enough to make you cowk.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the sound 'COW-K' as the noise a person makes when they're about to be sick – it sounds harsh and guttural.
Conceptual Metaphor
DISGUST IS A PHYSICAL REJECTION (the body tries to expel the offensive idea or sight).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'cowk' MOST likely to be used correctly?