Obs. exc. dial. Also 7 cow-babe. [? f. COW sb.1 (sense 4 a) + BABY.] A reproachful designation for a timorous person, a coward.

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1594.  Carew, Huarte’s Exam. Wits (1596), 311. When we will note a man to be a buzzard, and a cow-babie.

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1596.  Nashe, Saffron Walden, 129. (Fearfull cowbaby) he neuer heard peice shot off, but hee fell flat on his face.

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1614.  J. Davies, Scourge Folly, Wks. (1876), 212 (D.). Peace, lowing cow-babe, lubberly hobberdehoy.

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1687.  J. Philips, trans. Don Quix., 85. T’ shall never be said, that the tears of a sniveling Cow-baby kept me from doing the Duty of a Knight.

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1696.  Phillips, Cow … the emblem of a cowardly timorous Fellow, who is called a Cow-baby, a Cow-hearted Fellow.

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1863.  W. Barnes, Dorset Dial. (Philol. Soc.), Cow-beäby. A boy or girl childishly meek-hearted, or mother-sick. One easily cowed.

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