cows and kisses
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Mistress or missus—referring to the ladies.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “cows and kisses” mean?
Mistress or missus—referring to the ladies.
Is “cows and kisses” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.