How did the expression for the woman as a "cow" originate?

Question

I think it's something unfunny

seems most people are afraid to speak as the answers and revelations can offend

Answer 1

First recorded use was in 1696.

1696 PHILLIPS, Cow..the Emblem..of a Lazy, Dronish, beastly Woman, who is likened to a Cow.
1868-9 Parl. Papers XXXI. 123/1 It's all such stinking hussies as you who are keeping men out of their work, you stinking cow.
1891 FARMER Slang and its Analogues, Cow, a woman; a prostitute.
1914 C. MACKENZIE Sinister St. II. IV. iv. 930 Good job if that love-boy of hers does punch into her. Silly cow! She ought to know better.
1933 ‘G. ORWELL’ Down & Out xxi. 153 ‘Now, you cow,’ I said, ‘move it yourself.’
1936 ‘D. SMITH’ Call it a Day in Famous Plays
1935-6 239 And then a cow of a woman upset a tea-tray in the stalls.
1960 D. LESSING Pursuit of Eng. vi. 218 It's just that stupid cow her mother.
1960 P. HASTINGS Sandals for my Feet II. vi. 192 You shan't do this to me, you filthy old cow!

Answer 2

You might want to open the link below for several answers
They aren't very nice!
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=cow
**********************************************
1. An animal used for meat and for milk. Domesticated. Sadly, this animal has had a rather bloody history, and not even their babies are safe from being turned into food; the little ones become an evil food known as veal.
******************************************
2. A term for a nasty, stupid, and/or promiscuous person (usually female), despite that cows are cute and relatively intelligent animals.
*****************************************
I'd call Ann Coulter an ignorant cow, but that would be insulting to the cow; cows (and dogs) are too cute and too smart to be seen as horrible; she's a fly.

Answer 3

I agree that it somewhat is in all probability from whilst mattresses have been crammed with straw, or human beings purely undeniable slept on hay . i'm a nighttime owl - I in many situations hit the hay around hour of darkness, yet then I study until one or so, staring on the e book.

Answer 4

Cows are large sedentary farm animals that most people have seen or heard about. This familiarity makes for easy comparison.

Answer 5

Probably for the same reason some people think it's ok to use the terms:
Chic/ Chica / Babe / Fox / Treat / Catch /B*t*h / Wench / Hoe / Whore / Skank / Vixen/ Hooch or Hoochie.

Answer 6

c.1990s and cartoons/movies would be my guess! AAAANNNNNNDDDDDD the growing rate of obesity over the past 20 or so years.

Answer 7

dunno but where i come from it is just a mild insult i.e oh you silly cow, however, when i said this to a girly from the north, gateshead i believe, she nearly ripped my head off. apparently it aint quite so mild up them ther parts!!!

Answer 8

The same way as everyone calls me a stallion.

Answer 9

should see the wifes udder's