A horn from a cow, often used historically as a drinking vessel, container, or decorative object.
From Old English 'cu' (cow) + 'horn'. Cow horns were practical items in medieval and early modern times, repurposed as vessels before glass and metal containers became common. The compound reflects the resourceful use of animal byproducts in pre-industrial societies.
Cowboys and medieval farmers didn't just throw away cow horns—they carved them into drinking cups, powder horns for gunpowder, and even lanterns with translucent horn instead of glass! This shows how every part of an animal had value before mass manufacturing.
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