Cow, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cowed (koud);; p. pr. & vb. n. Cowing.] [Cf. Icel. kuga, Sw. kufva to check, subdue, Dan. kue. Cf. Cuff, v. t.] To depress with fear; to daunt the spirits or courage of; to overawe.
To vanquish a people already cowed.
Shak.
THe French king was cowed.
J. R. Green.
Cow, n. [Prob. from same root as cow, v. t.] (Mining) A wedge, or brake, to check the motion of a machine or car; a chock. Knight.
Cow"age (kou"&asl;j), n. (Bot.) See Cowhage.
Cow"an (kou"an), n. [Cf. OF. couillon a coward, a cullion.] One who works as a mason without having served a regular apprenticeship. [Scot.] Among Freemasons, it is a cant term for pretender, interloper.
Cow"ard (kou"?rd), a. [OF. couard, coard, coart, n. and adj., F. couard, fr. OF. coe, coue, tail, F. queue (fr. L. coda, a form of cauda tail) + -ard; orig., short-tailed, as an epithet of the hare, or perh., turning tail, like a scared dog. Cf. Cue, Queue, Caudal.] 1. (Her.) Borne in the escutcheon with his tail doubled between his legs; -- said of a lion.