| 释义 |
ˈkill-cow, n. and a. Obs. exc. dial.
Also 6–7 kilcow(e.
[f. kill v. + cow n.1]
A. n.
1. A swashbuckler, bully, braggadocio; a terrible or great person; a man of importance.
1589R. Harvey Pl. Perc. (1590) A iij, What neede all this stir? this banding of kilcowes to fight with a shadow? 1639Earl of Strafford Lett. & Disp. (1739) II. 307 A captain he is, but no such great Kill-Cow as they would have him. 1650Bayly Herba Parietis 127 One Hamon (a notable kill-cow and noted dueller). a1734North Lives (1826) I. 91 Well known to be one of the greatest kill-cows at drinking in the nation. 1896Dialect Notes I. 22 (E.D.D.) ‘He's no great killcow’, i.e. he doesn't amount to much (of a person who thinks himself somebody).
2. dial. A serious affair; a matter involving great trouble or loss. (Usually in negative phr.)
1825–80Jamieson s.v., Ye needna mind, I'm sure it's nae sic great kill-cow. 1886Elworthy W. Som. Word-bk. s.v., Twadn no such kill-cow job arter all.
3. A nickname for a butcher. rare.
.. Old Ballad (N.), I would not be a butcher..For..He shall be call'd Kill-cow, and so shall be named.
4. A kind of spike-rush: see quot.
1898Britton & Brown Flora North. Canada, Index, Eleocharis tenuis. Slender Spike-rush, Kill-cow.
B. adj. Bragging, bullying; terrifying. kill-cow fray, something made up to terrify.
1589Nashe Ded. to Greene's Menaphon (Arb.) 6 The ingrafted overflow of some kilcow conceipt. 1592― P. Penilesse (ed. 2) 11 b, In this vaine of kilcow vanitie. 1613Purchas Pilgrimage I. ii. xii. 145 Like Semiramis Elephants which were but stuffed oxe-hides, kill-cow-frayes. 1633Shirley Young Admiral iv. iii, You are afraid Of him, belike: 'tis such a kill-cow gentleman!
Hence † ˈkillcow v. trans., to terrify with threatening looks; to cow.
1592G. Harvey Pierce's Super. in Archaica II. 142 A new art to kill-cow men with peremptory termes, and bugges⁓wordes. |