Obs. exc. dial. Also 7 -shern, 7–9 -shorn, 9 -scairn, -shairn. [f. COW sb.1 + SHARN:—OE. scearn dung.] Cow-dung.

1

1622.  W. Burton, Descr. Leic. (1777), 2, in Leicester Gloss., The want of wood and fuel for fire, for which the inhabitants are constrained … to make use of … straw, cow-shern, and such like.

2

a. 1697.  Aubrey, Wilts, Royal Soc. MS. 168 (Halliw.). Hartflies … bred out of the dung of the deer, as beetles are out of cowshorne.

3

1808.  R. Anderson, Cumberld. Ball. (1819), 63. Ann, git cow-scairn … Nowt meks a pultess better.

4

1884.  Cheshire Gloss., Cow-shorn or Cow-sharn, the leavings of the cow. Wilbraham’s Gloss. 1820–6.

5