Definition

A type of bell that is attached to a cow's neck, which makes a sound to help locate the cow.

Example

The farmer could hear the sound of the cowbell ringing in the distance.

Conversation

Did you hear that sound coming from the farm?

Yeah, I think it's a cowbell from one of the cows.

I always wondered why they use a cowbell anyway.

It's so they can keep track of the cows when they're out in the field.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Cowbell → The word is formed from "cow" (from Old English *cu*, meaning a domesticated bovine animal) and "bell" (from Old English *belle*, meaning a hollow metallic sound maker). A cowbell is a bell used to identify or locate cows, typically hung around their necks.

Memory Tip

Think of a 'cow' as the animal and a 'bell' as the sound maker — a cowbell is simply a bell for cows.

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