Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
bovine [boh-vahyn, -vin, -veen] Word Origin adjective
- of or relating to the subfamily Bovinae, which includes cattle, buffalo, and kudus.
- oxlike; cowlike.
- stolid; dull.
noun
- a bovine animal.
Origin of bovine 1810–20; Late Latin bovīnus of, pertaining to oxen or cows, equivalent to Latin bov- (stem of bōs) ox + -īnus -ine1 Related formsbo·vine·ly, adverbbo·vin·i·ty [boh-vin-i-tee] /boʊˈvɪn ɪ ti/, noun British Dictionary definitions for bovinity bovine adjective
- of, relating to, or belonging to the Bovini (cattle), a bovid tribe including domestic cattle
- (of people) dull; sluggish; stolid
noun
- any animal belonging to the Bovini
Derived Formsbovinely, adverbWord Origin for bovine C19: from Late Latin bovīnus concerning oxen or cows, from Latin bōs ox, cow Word Origin and History for bovinity bovine adj.
1817, from French bovin (14c.), from Late Latin bovinus, from Latin bos (genitive bovis) “ox, cow,” from PIE *gwous- (see cow (n.)). Figurative sense of “inert and stupid” is from 1855.
bovinity in Science bovine [bō′vīn′]
- Characteristic of or resembling cows or cattle.