Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1941 (SND Vol. II).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
Quotation dates: 1769-1776
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†BLACK COW, n. An imaginary black cow said to tread on one when calamity comes.Sc. 1769 D. Herd Sc. Songs (1776) II. 120:
The black cow on your foot ne'er trod, Which gars you sing alang the road.Ags. 1776 C. Keith Farmer's Ha (1796) xxxviii.:
The black cow has nae trampet yet Upo' your taes.
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"Black Cow n.". Dictionary of the Scots Language. 2004. Scottish Language Dictionaries Ltd. Accessed 18 Dec 2025 <http://www.dsl.ac.uk/entry/snd/black_cow>
