cowsense

English

Alternative forms

• cow-sense, cow sense

Etymology

cow +‎ sense

Noun

cowsense (uncountable)

1. An instinctive ability to work well with cattle.
   • 1916, American Produce Review - Volume 41, page 919:

     The data tabulated from the replies on the question blanks show in general that there must be a co-ordination of all the factors conducive to the production of high quality milk, coupled with good sound “cowsense” on the part of the herdsman, to produce milk that will score 90 or above.

   • 1918, Jersey Bulletin - Volume 37, Issue 1, page 866:

     He is uneducated, but possesses a quality too many of our college boys lack, viz., “cowsense” and stable experience.

   • 1975, Jan Haddle, The Complete Book of the Appaloosa, page 157:

     Quannah was a handsome horse, well put up, with disposition and cowsense galore.

   • 1991, Kathleen Rauschl Ward, The American Horse: From Conquistadors to the 21st Century, page 10:

     Belsky horses all had inborn cowsense as did the old-type Spanish cowpony.

2. Intelligence on the part of a cattlebeast.
   • 1975, Orville K. Sweet, Birth of a Breed: The History of Polled Herefords, page 2:

     The Longhorn cow remained to become the founder of an empire. She matched wits with the wilderness, met claw and fang with horns and cowsense.