queen, noun1

Forms:
Also quean.
Origin:
AfrikaansShow more Calque formed on Afrikaans kween barren cow.
A barren female mammal, particularly, a barren domestic cow. Also attributive.
1892 Nicolls & Eglington Sportsman in S. Afr. 61Old [elephant] cows, and especially ‘queens’ (barren females), will be found more difficult to deal with than the bulls.
[1913 C. Pettman Africanderisms 287Kween,..A barren animal of any sort.]
c1964 J. Hope in New S. Afr. Writing 34I glared with all the arrogance of my fifteen years — ‘Good oxen! Quean cows, and a bob’s worth of butchers’ meat!’
1971 Daily Dispatch 16 Oct. 215 Old cows, 4 trek oxen, 1 queen heifer, Shorthorn type.
A barren female mammal, particularly, a barren domestic cow. Also attributive.
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18921971