farrow
1 of 3verb
far·row ˈfer-(ˌ)ō 
ˈfa-(ˌ)rō
farrowed; farrowing; farrows
transitive verb
: to give birth to (a farrow)
intransitive verb
of swine : to bring forth young —often used with down
farrow
2 of 3noun
1
: a litter of pigs
2
: an act of farrowing
farrow
3 of 3adjective
of a cow
: not pregnant
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
Nancy Stohs, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 29 Aug. 2017 Boars, particularly farrowing sows protecting their young, can be aggressive, charging and attacking intruders. Helen Macdonald, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2016
Verb
A few years ago, a proposal (still pending) to put a 25,000-hog farrowing operation in Bayfield County led Dougherty to join the fight against corporate farms. Nancy Stohs, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 29 Aug. 2017 Boars, particularly farrowing sows protecting their young, can be aggressive, charging and attacking intruders. Helen Macdonald, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2016 Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English farwen, from Old English *feargian, from Old English fearh young pig; akin to Old High German farah young pig, Latin porcus pig
Adjective
Middle English (Scots) ferow
First Known Use
Verb
13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense
Noun
1577, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Adjective
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
farrow 1 of 3
transitive verb
far·row ˈfar-(ˌ)ō, -ə(-w)
: to give birth to (a farrow)
intransitive verb
of swine : to bring forth young —often used with down
farrow
2 of 3noun
1
: a litter of pigs
2
: an act of farrowing
farrow
3 of 3adjective
of a cow
: not pregnant