different between yearling vs heifer

English

Etymology

From Middle English yerling, yerlyng, equivalent to year +? -ling. Cognate with Dutch jaarling (“yearling”), German Jährling (“yearling”).

Noun

yearling (plural yearlings)

1. An animal that is between one and two years old; one that is in its second year (but not yet two full years old).

   a yearling lamb

2. A racehorse that is considered to be one year old until a subsequent January 1st.
3. (US) A sophomore at West Point military academy.
   • 1910, H. Irving Hancock, Dick Prescott's Second Year at West Point (page 84)

     "But is a plebe forbidden to stroll here?"
     "If a plebe did have the brass to try it," replied Anstey slowly, "I reckon he would have to fight the whole yearling class in turn."

Translations

Anagrams

• grayline, layering, re-laying, relaying

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /jœ?.li?/, /ji?.li?/

Noun

yearling m (plural yearlings)

1. yearling

English

Etymology

From Middle English hayfare, hayfre, heyfer, from Old English heahfore, h?ahfre, compound of (1) *heag- (“mating”) (compare dialectal German Hagen, Hegel (“breeding bull”), Middle Dutch haechdroese (“genitals”), Old English hagan (“id.”)), from Proto-Indo-European *?ak- (“to be able, help”) (compare Sanskrit ??????? (?aknóti, “to be able”), Avestan ????????????-? (sak-, “to agree”)) and (2) -fore (compare English elver, fieldfare, Old English sceolfor (“cormorant”)).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?h?f?(?)/, /?h?f?/
• Rhymes: -?f?(?)

Noun

heifer (plural heifers)

1. A young female cow, (particularly) one over one year old but which has not calved.

   • And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, This is the ordinance of the law which the Lord hath commanded, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring thee a red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke.

2. (obsolete) A wife.
   • 1609, Ben Jonson, Epicœne, or The Silent Woman:

     Her, whom I shall choose for my heicfar.

3. (informal, derogatory, obsolete) A girl or young woman.
   • 1853, T.C. Haliburton, Sam Slick's Wise Saws, Vol. II., p. 282:

     I have half a mind to marry that heifer, tho' wives are bothersome critters when you have too many of them.

   • 1934, James T. Farrell, The Young Manhood of Studs Lonigan, Ch. 20:

     Sally, a buxom human heifer, leaned forward over the cashier's counter, and handed Dapper Dan O'Doul the autographed picture of Ramon Novarro, which she had procured by sending money and stamps. Her blue energetic eyes flashed, and she continued leaning forward with the front of her dress sagging, permitting Dapper Dan to get an eyeful.

4. (informal, derogatory) A cow: a large, unattractive, unpleasant woman.
   • 2001, Glenda Howard, Cita's World

     My hand was aching to slap that silly heifer. I told her to take her trifling ass down to Burger King and get herself a job flipping burgers...

Derived terms

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References