cud

noun

ˈkəd How to pronounce cud (audio)
 chiefly Southern  ˈku̇d,
 or  ˈküd
1
: food brought up into the mouth by a ruminating animal from its rumen to be chewed again
2

Examples of cud in a Sentence

a cow chewing its cud
Recent Examples on the Web By monitoring the reindeer’s brain activity, Furrer and colleagues found that the animals were able to sleep while stoically chewing their cud. Brian Handwerk, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Dec. 2023 And the new study has revealed that chewing the cud has benefits beyond nourishment—the repetitive process also helps the animal reap the mental benefits of sleep. Brian Handwerk, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Dec. 2023 The snouts of cud-chewing mammals come in a glorious variety of shapes. Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 1 Apr. 2016 The machine’s calmly rotating auger is reminiscent of a cow’s consistent cud chewing. The Hunger Coalition, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2021 Seamus Heaney once characterized the Irish novelist John McGahern as a ruminant, given to chewing the cud. Clair Wills, The New York Review of Books, 4 Nov. 2021 The Divina Mosaica Tsavorite watch is crafted in 18-karat white gold and is set with 282 brilliant-cud diamonds on the dial and the lugs, and with 262 tsavorites. Roberta Naas, Forbes, 30 Aug. 2021 Much of that is enteric methane, which is produced when cud-chewing animals like cows digest their food. Fortune, 2 June 2021 On a steady platform, their research concluded, heifers likely won't spew their cud. Laura Mallonee, Wired, 18 Feb. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cud.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English cudde, from Old English cwudu; akin to Old High German kuti glue, Sanskrit jatu gum

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cud was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near cud

Cite this Entry

“Cud.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cud. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

cud

noun
ˈkəd How to pronounce cud (audio)
ˈku̇d
: food brought up into the mouth by some animals (as a cow) from the rumen to be chewed again

Medical Definition

: food brought up into the mouth by a ruminating animal from its first stomach to be chewed again

More from Merriam-Webster on cud

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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