More just for the fun of it than really expecting it to be taken up, but I thought I'd toss this one your way.
It means "lowing" or "bellowing." Who knew that cows actually do moo?
Mugient
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- Great Grand Panjandrum
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Re: Mugient
Are plastic cows mugient? I was thinking of putting a heard of them on my front lawn, but the neighbors might complain if they make too much noise.
RL Stevenson's friendly cow wandered lowing here and there. If nostalgia fills your heart over this poetic line, and you do not have your childhood copy, see the following link for a refresher.
http://www.poetryloverspage.com/poets/s ... erses.html
RL Stevenson's friendly cow wandered lowing here and there. If nostalgia fills your heart over this poetic line, and you do not have your childhood copy, see the following link for a refresher.
http://www.poetryloverspage.com/poets/s ... erses.html
It is dark at night, but the Sun will come up and then we can see.
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- Great Grand Panjandrum
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Re: Mugient
Lowing and bellowing are not the same to me. When I read or hear lowing I think of a low sound, perhaps drawn out, as if cattle or sheep were murmurring. Bellowing, on the other hand, is loud and either complaining or calling ov a distance. Anyone else make that distinction?
pl
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- Great Grand Panjandrum
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Re: Mugient
Cows low and bellow. Blowhard people bellow. I can't find any reference to anything but a cow lowing. Yes, lowing is a pleasant sound to those of a bucolic bent, myself included.
Do cows include males and females? My daddy told me that a cow was a female and a bull was a male of the cattle species. Other species also have female cows and male bulls. Cattle bulls bellow when they are bellicose. When they are in heat, they screech. Since cattle is a collective noun there can't be a single cattle. Does English need some improvement here?
Do cows include males and females? My daddy told me that a cow was a female and a bull was a male of the cattle species. Other species also have female cows and male bulls. Cattle bulls bellow when they are bellicose. When they are in heat, they screech. Since cattle is a collective noun there can't be a single cattle. Does English need some improvement here?
It is dark at night, but the Sun will come up and then we can see.
Re: Mugient
The French national anthem La Marseillaise includes the following lines:
Entendez-vous dans les campagnes
Mugir ces féroces soldats?
(Do you hear those ferocious soldiers bellow [or low] in the countryside?)
The syllable "Mu" is sung on a long, deep, accented note for imitative effect. More of a moo than a shout.
Entendez-vous dans les campagnes
Mugir ces féroces soldats?
(Do you hear those ferocious soldiers bellow [or low] in the countryside?)
The syllable "Mu" is sung on a long, deep, accented note for imitative effect. More of a moo than a shout.
- Slava
- Great Grand Panjandrum
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Re: Mugient
Going back a few posts, yes, I agree lowing and bellowing are quite different sounds. However, I do think cattle make both sounds.
As to cows v cattle: aye, cattle is perhaps the proper term, but cows is also generally accepted. This is one of those points where we dispute the rules over how the "real" people use the language.
As to cows v cattle: aye, cattle is perhaps the proper term, but cows is also generally accepted. This is one of those points where we dispute the rules over how the "real" people use the language.
Life is like playing chess with chessmen who each have thoughts and feelings and motives of their own.
Re: Mugient
"Cows" is an interesting exception to the norm of using a masculine word to indicate both the whole population and the males therein, with a separate term to indicate female members.
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- Great Grand Panjandrum
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Re: Mugient
Our sensitive and delicate Victorian ancestors were wont to say gentleman cow instead of bull.
It is dark at night, but the Sun will come up and then we can see.
Re: Mugient
^ I knew about covering the limbs of pianos and such, but truly?
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- Great Grand Panjandrum
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Re: Mugient
The mind boggles.
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