cowson

English

Etymology

Attested since the 1920s. From cow + son

Noun

cowson (plural cowsons)

1. (slang, chiefly South London, archaic) An objectionable, contemptible, unfortunate or stubborn person, place or situation (sometimes used ironically or humorously); bastard; git.
   • 1922, Adventure, volume 34, Issues 1-3 - Page 153:

     Dance, yuh funny-faced cowson.

   • 1939, James Curtis, What Immortal Hand… - Page 235:

     Well, I come down in the world…It’s a cowson, ain’t it.

   • 1946, David Marcus, Terrence Smith, S.J.White, Irish Writing - Volumes 1-6 - Page 62:

     No kiddin’, I used to get on lovely with them, all except one cowson who wouldn’t wash.

   • 1947, John Cournos, Best World Short Stories: 1947 - Volume 1 - Page 108:

     You lucky cowson. With a bleeding March coming off tomorrow and all.

   • 1979, Chas & Dave, "Gertcha", Don’t Give a Monkey’s (album) [1].

     Gertcha, cowson, gertcha/Gertcha!.

     (chorus)

   That cowson still owes me five quid.

   Millwall lost again. What a cowson.

Adjective

cowson (not comparable)

1. (slang, chiefly South London, archaic) Used for emphasis; bloody; fucking.

   That cowson nut is rusted frozen.

   That cowson car refused to start on the tenth attempt.

   • 1992, Alexander Stuart, Tribes -Page 102:

     The traffic is a cunt, as every cowson-foreign-bastard doubts his rainstreaked, wiper-smeared view and slows to a useless crawl.

Synonyms

• (expresses dislike): See Thesaurus:git
• (expresses intensity of feeling): See Thesaurus:damned

Anagrams

• co-owns, coowns