bell cow


noun

a cow, especially the lead cow of a herd, having a bell attached to a collar around its neck so that the herd can be located easily.

Origin of bell cow

An Americanism dating back to 1855–60

Example sentences from the Web for bell cow

  • “Good-day, cow at the manger,” said the cat to the bell-cow.

    The Norwegian Fairy Book |Clara Stroebe
  • But the evening was come, and the bell-cow, home from her browsing, was ringing for admittance at the barn-yard gate.

    An Arkansas Planter |Opie Percival Read
  • The Deacon jingled it as he passed.223 "Goes with the bell-cow," he said, and nothing further was said of it.

    Other Main-Travelled Roads |Hamlin Garland