milch cow

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Sense 1

Meaning · English

A German WWII submarine designed to carry large cargoes of supplies and transfer them to other submarines.

Register: slang

Where it’s used: Used American English
Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

One who is easily tricked out of his property; a term used by gaolers, for prisoners who have money and bleed freely.

Era: ca. 1811 (Georgian)

Where it’s used: Origin British & Irish English
Sources & notes

Historical definition reproduced from Grose’s Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (1811 edition, public domain; Project Gutenberg #5402, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.

Common questions

What does “milch cow” mean?

A German WWII submarine designed to carry large cargoes of supplies and transfer them to other submarines.

Is “milch cow” formal or informal?

milch cow is generally slang.