▲ 157 ▼ What's something you just learned, that you should have known for a while? (lemmy.world) submitted 3 years ago by nei7jc@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world 163 comments fedilink hide all child comments
[–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 44 points 3 years ago (5 children) There is no animal called "cow". Cow is a term for females of multiple species. The animal that gives us milk is called cattle. Female cattle are cows. Male cattle are bulls. I always thought cattle was a synonym for livestock, but it is a species of animal. permalink fedilink source hideshow 10 child comments replies: [–] surewhynotlem@lemmy.world 34 points 3 years ago (1 child) Words mean how people use them. There is absolutely an animal called a cow, regardless of sex, and it's a synonym for cattle. You are also correct that cow means female is many species. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world -3 points 3 years ago (1 child) Ok permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [+] PissinSelfNdriveway@sh.itjust.works -50 points 3 years ago* (last edited 3 years ago) (2 children) $10 says you are the person that makes everyone bummed when you show up . Edit: you sure have a lot of accounts to downvote me with lil fella. I bet you'll have a great time talking about it tomorrow alone I mean with your "friends". permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 4 child comments replies: [–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 12 points 3 years ago (2 children) Wow. You really over estimated how much I care. Here, I'll upvote you so you can feel better about yourself. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 4 child comments replies: [–] nei7jc@lemmy.world [S] 3 points 3 years ago (1 child) Also why would you even bother creating accounts to downvote someone permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 3 points 2 years ago I guess that's important to some people. permalink fedilink source parent [+] PissinSelfNdriveway@sh.itjust.works -20 points 3 years ago (1 child) Well thank you Mr comment watcher person. I sure do feel fuzzy inside now. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 4 points 2 years ago Glad I could help! Hope today is great as well! permalink fedilink source parent [–] Sabin10@lemmy.world 11 points 2 years ago* (1 child) Hey everyone, look at this guy! He thinks he deserves upvotes for being clever and not downvotes for an off topic, personal attack that derails the conversation. Welcome to lemmy, where proper rediquette is actually followed sometimes. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] PissinSelfNdriveway@sh.itjust.works -2 points 2 years ago* Leonard, I give zero fucks about fake Internet points, I wasn't trying to be clever, and I wasn't trying to derail a conversation that wasn't even happening.. but it seems I sure was stating a fact. permalink fedilink source parent [–] waz@lemmy.world 20 points 3 years ago (5 children) Similarly, and also often misunderstood... Peacock only refers to the males. A female is called a peahen. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 10 child comments replies: [–] fubo@lemmy.world 9 points 3 years ago (1 child) Collectively they are an ungodly ruckus of peafowl. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] DokPsy@infosec.pub 4 points 3 years ago (1 child) Honestly not sure which is worse. Peafowl or guinea fowl permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 3 points 2 years ago (1 child) I've lived near both, and only one made me think that children were being murdered nearby. Peafowl sound like nightmares. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] MrShankles@reddthat.com 3 points 2 years ago First time I heard peafowl at night, I honestly thought a woman was being murdered in the distance or something. I was a kid and had to ask my parents what was going on. I almost didn't believe them because I didn't even know there were peafowl down the road at all. But that memory always stuck with me lol permalink fedilink source parent [–] SgtAStrawberry@lemmy.world 8 points 3 years ago That is such a logical thing, when you think about it. permalink fedilink source parent [–] PissinSelfNdriveway@sh.itjust.works 6 points 3 years ago (1 child) My parents have several peacreatures...... a refer to them as shut the fuck up.... they are the donkeys of birds and should be exterminated. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] gazter@aussie.zone 4 points 2 years ago (1 child) "Look at me, I'm so pretty!" "AHHHHH-RAAAAAAAAAH! AH-RAH! AHHHHH RAAAAAAAAAAA!" permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] PissinSelfNdriveway@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 years ago I live a 1/2 mile or so away and down a different road but they still sound like they are in my yard screaming..... the first one they got immediately flew away, so then they had to make a giant outdoor cage with a roof to keep the next ones in..... I'm not a genius but I believe if you have to build a outdoor prison compound to keep in your stupid screaming birds you should probably find a different hobby. permalink fedilink source parent [–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 3 points 3 years ago Oh yeah! That's a good one too! permalink fedilink source parent [–] Feathercrown@lemmy.world 1 point 2 years ago* You say peacock and nobody bats an eye... but you say poopcock and everyone LOSES THEIR MINDS - The Joker permalink fedilink source parent [–] itsprobablyfine@feddit.uk 8 points 3 years ago (3 children) Wait. The singular of cattle is cattle? I think that's the part that confuses me. Or is there no singular and you must use cow/bull? Either way I've never really thought about it and now I can't not permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 6 child comments replies: [–] fubo@lemmy.world 14 points 3 years ago* "Cattle" is a mass noun. You have a lot of cattle. If you want to state a number of them, you have seventy-two head of cattle. "Head" is a counter; compare "sheets of paper", "bales of hay", or "hands of poker". You wouldn't say you have fifty hay, or that you played five pokers. And "papers" (count noun) are written works, whereas "paper" (mass noun) or "sheets of paper" (mass noun with counter) is what the works are written on. If you're in the cattle business, you absolutely do care about their age, sex, and reproductive status. So you might have one calf and six cows; or three steers; or two heifers, a yearling calf, and a bull. If you really need to refer to one bovine without talking about its age, sex, or reproductive status ... you have one head of cattle, or you have a cattlebeast. Yep, that's a thing. permalink fedilink source parent [–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 7 points 3 years ago Actually, your already familiar with this: Moose. One Moose. Two Moose. Male is a bull. Female is a cow. 🤯 permalink fedilink source parent [–] xantoxis@lemmy.world 3 points 3 years ago No, the person you're replying to is just wrong. The common name for that animal is cow, and in common usage it can refer to both sexes. Cattle is the plural. permalink fedilink source parent [–] lvxferre@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 years ago (1 child) Words don't work this way. They more often than not have multiple, somewhat overlapping, meanings. For example, Wiktionary lists five meanings for the word, when it comes to quadrupeds: (strictly) An adult female of the species Bos taurus, especially one that has calved. (loosely or informal) Any member of the species Bos taurus regardless of sex or age, including bulls and calves. (uncommon) Beef: the meat of cattle as food. (uncommon) Any bovines or bovids generally, including yaks, buffalo, etc. (biology) A female member of other large species of mammal, including the bovines, moose, whales, seals, hippos, rhinos, manatees, and elephants. You're likely referring to meaning #4 or #5, but keep in mind that #1 is the most common and #2 is likely the original one (due to the cognates). permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago (1 child) See in number 2, where it says loosely or informal? That means, "people have said this wrong for so long, that some may become argumentative if you try to tell them it's wrong." Kind of like how literally, literally means literally, but it was funny to say literally when you meant figuratively, so literally literally is literally literally figuratively literally. Literally. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] lvxferre@lemmy.ml 1 point 2 years ago* "Loosely or informal" solely means that it's associated with an informal register, specially in contrast with #1. Any claim past is assumption. "Wrong" is relative. Which is the standard/reference that you're using for contrast? Your own usage? And odds are that #2 is the original meaning. It isn't like "people suddenly started to refer to Bos taurus regardless of sex", it's more like "people have been using it with this meaning for thousands of years". #1 (the more common meaning) is likely the result of semantic narrowing, and #5 (the one that you're defending as "correct") is probably fairly recent. None of those meanings should be seen as "incorrect", but picking on a meaning that backtracks all the way into Proto-Indo-European is extremely obtuse. (And no, the situation is nothing like the one for "literally".) permalink fedilink source parent [–] oNevion@lemm.ee 1 point 3 years ago (1 child) Wut. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 7 points 3 years ago (2 children) I'm not sure if your mind is blown because you also didn't know that, or you don't understand what I'm saying. I could clarify if you'd like, but you'll have to let me know what you mean by Wut. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 4 child comments replies: [–] Skyhighatrist@lemmy.ca 7 points 3 years ago (1 child) What you've said is technically correct (the best kind of correct). But the word cattle is also used to refer to other similar animals such as Yak, Bison, Buffalo. Merriam-Webster defines cattle as : domesticated quadrupeds held as property or raised for use specifically : bovine animals on a farm or ranch Cambridge defines it as: a group of animals that includes cows, buffalo, and bison, that are often kept for their milk or meat And Oxford as: cows and bulls that are kept as farm animals for their milk or meat Wikipedia is more specific and defines it as: Cattle or oxen (Bos taurus) are large, domesticated, bovid ungulates. They are prominent modern members of the subfamily Bovinae and the most widespread species of the genus Bos. Not disputing your fact at all, just clarifying that words often have multiple meanings and meanings also change over time according to popular usage, so saying cattle means livestock isn't necessarily wrong, it's just not as precise as the technical definition. And the more people that use it that way the more correct it becomes. As I dove deeper into the topic, I'm seeing evidence that suggests that Cattle is also an American term that means Livestock, but is marked as archaic. Which honestly makes sense as the word's etymology is the following according to Merriam-Webster: Middle English catel, cadel "property (whether real or personal), goods, treasure, livestock, (in plural cateles) possessions," borrowed from Anglo-French katil "property, goods, wealth," borrowed from medieval French (dialects of Picardy and French Flanders) catel, going back to Medieval Latin capitāle "movable property, riches," (in Anglo-Saxon law texts) "head of cattle," noun derivative from neuter of capitālis "of the head, chief, principal" Anyway, good fact nonetheless. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 3 points 3 years ago (1 child) Yeah. I often heard cattle used in that way, so that's why I thought it. So, no it's not wrong, but it was pretty wild to learn that it wasn't completely correct. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Skyhighatrist@lemmy.ca 2 points 3 years ago* (1 child) What's wild to me is that humans decided to name a whole-ass species "Property". permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 4 points 3 years ago (1 child) I think it's the other way around. Like you might call a bunch of mindless followers "sheep". We didn't name the animal after those people, we started using the word that way because it reminded us of the animal. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Skyhighatrist@lemmy.ca 2 points 3 years ago* (1 child) The etymology suggests that originally we just called livestock cattle (i.e. these are My animals, my property), and the name was so ubiquitous that when it came time to give the specific species a name, it stuck. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 2 points 3 years ago I just assumed otherwise, because that's pretty funny if it's true. permalink fedilink source parent [–] oNevion@lemm.ee 4 points 3 years ago Definitely meant as in I had no idea either and you helped me learn something today ☺️ permalink fedilink source parent
[–] surewhynotlem@lemmy.world 34 points 3 years ago (1 child) Words mean how people use them. There is absolutely an animal called a cow, regardless of sex, and it's a synonym for cattle. You are also correct that cow means female is many species. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world -3 points 3 years ago (1 child) Ok permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [+] PissinSelfNdriveway@sh.itjust.works -50 points 3 years ago* (last edited 3 years ago) (2 children) $10 says you are the person that makes everyone bummed when you show up . Edit: you sure have a lot of accounts to downvote me with lil fella. I bet you'll have a great time talking about it tomorrow alone I mean with your "friends". permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 4 child comments replies: [–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 12 points 3 years ago (2 children) Wow. You really over estimated how much I care. Here, I'll upvote you so you can feel better about yourself. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 4 child comments replies: [–] nei7jc@lemmy.world [S] 3 points 3 years ago (1 child) Also why would you even bother creating accounts to downvote someone permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 3 points 2 years ago I guess that's important to some people. permalink fedilink source parent [+] PissinSelfNdriveway@sh.itjust.works -20 points 3 years ago (1 child) Well thank you Mr comment watcher person. I sure do feel fuzzy inside now. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 4 points 2 years ago Glad I could help! Hope today is great as well! permalink fedilink source parent [–] Sabin10@lemmy.world 11 points 2 years ago* (1 child) Hey everyone, look at this guy! He thinks he deserves upvotes for being clever and not downvotes for an off topic, personal attack that derails the conversation. Welcome to lemmy, where proper rediquette is actually followed sometimes. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] PissinSelfNdriveway@sh.itjust.works -2 points 2 years ago* Leonard, I give zero fucks about fake Internet points, I wasn't trying to be clever, and I wasn't trying to derail a conversation that wasn't even happening.. but it seems I sure was stating a fact. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world -3 points 3 years ago (1 child) Ok permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [+] PissinSelfNdriveway@sh.itjust.works -50 points 3 years ago* (last edited 3 years ago) (2 children) $10 says you are the person that makes everyone bummed when you show up . Edit: you sure have a lot of accounts to downvote me with lil fella. I bet you'll have a great time talking about it tomorrow alone I mean with your "friends". permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 4 child comments replies: [–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 12 points 3 years ago (2 children) Wow. You really over estimated how much I care. Here, I'll upvote you so you can feel better about yourself. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 4 child comments replies: [–] nei7jc@lemmy.world [S] 3 points 3 years ago (1 child) Also why would you even bother creating accounts to downvote someone permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 3 points 2 years ago I guess that's important to some people. permalink fedilink source parent [+] PissinSelfNdriveway@sh.itjust.works -20 points 3 years ago (1 child) Well thank you Mr comment watcher person. I sure do feel fuzzy inside now. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 4 points 2 years ago Glad I could help! Hope today is great as well! permalink fedilink source parent [–] Sabin10@lemmy.world 11 points 2 years ago* (1 child) Hey everyone, look at this guy! He thinks he deserves upvotes for being clever and not downvotes for an off topic, personal attack that derails the conversation. Welcome to lemmy, where proper rediquette is actually followed sometimes. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] PissinSelfNdriveway@sh.itjust.works -2 points 2 years ago* Leonard, I give zero fucks about fake Internet points, I wasn't trying to be clever, and I wasn't trying to derail a conversation that wasn't even happening.. but it seems I sure was stating a fact. permalink fedilink source parent
[+] PissinSelfNdriveway@sh.itjust.works -50 points 3 years ago* (last edited 3 years ago) (2 children) $10 says you are the person that makes everyone bummed when you show up . Edit: you sure have a lot of accounts to downvote me with lil fella. I bet you'll have a great time talking about it tomorrow alone I mean with your "friends". permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 4 child comments replies: [–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 12 points 3 years ago (2 children) Wow. You really over estimated how much I care. Here, I'll upvote you so you can feel better about yourself. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 4 child comments replies: [–] nei7jc@lemmy.world [S] 3 points 3 years ago (1 child) Also why would you even bother creating accounts to downvote someone permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 3 points 2 years ago I guess that's important to some people. permalink fedilink source parent [+] PissinSelfNdriveway@sh.itjust.works -20 points 3 years ago (1 child) Well thank you Mr comment watcher person. I sure do feel fuzzy inside now. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 4 points 2 years ago Glad I could help! Hope today is great as well! permalink fedilink source parent [–] Sabin10@lemmy.world 11 points 2 years ago* (1 child) Hey everyone, look at this guy! He thinks he deserves upvotes for being clever and not downvotes for an off topic, personal attack that derails the conversation. Welcome to lemmy, where proper rediquette is actually followed sometimes. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] PissinSelfNdriveway@sh.itjust.works -2 points 2 years ago* Leonard, I give zero fucks about fake Internet points, I wasn't trying to be clever, and I wasn't trying to derail a conversation that wasn't even happening.. but it seems I sure was stating a fact. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 12 points 3 years ago (2 children) Wow. You really over estimated how much I care. Here, I'll upvote you so you can feel better about yourself. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 4 child comments replies: [–] nei7jc@lemmy.world [S] 3 points 3 years ago (1 child) Also why would you even bother creating accounts to downvote someone permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 3 points 2 years ago I guess that's important to some people. permalink fedilink source parent [+] PissinSelfNdriveway@sh.itjust.works -20 points 3 years ago (1 child) Well thank you Mr comment watcher person. I sure do feel fuzzy inside now. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 4 points 2 years ago Glad I could help! Hope today is great as well! permalink fedilink source parent
[–] nei7jc@lemmy.world [S] 3 points 3 years ago (1 child) Also why would you even bother creating accounts to downvote someone permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 3 points 2 years ago I guess that's important to some people. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 3 points 2 years ago I guess that's important to some people. permalink fedilink source parent
[+] PissinSelfNdriveway@sh.itjust.works -20 points 3 years ago (1 child) Well thank you Mr comment watcher person. I sure do feel fuzzy inside now. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 4 points 2 years ago Glad I could help! Hope today is great as well! permalink fedilink source parent
[–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 4 points 2 years ago Glad I could help! Hope today is great as well! permalink fedilink source parent
[–] Sabin10@lemmy.world 11 points 2 years ago* (1 child) Hey everyone, look at this guy! He thinks he deserves upvotes for being clever and not downvotes for an off topic, personal attack that derails the conversation. Welcome to lemmy, where proper rediquette is actually followed sometimes. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] PissinSelfNdriveway@sh.itjust.works -2 points 2 years ago* Leonard, I give zero fucks about fake Internet points, I wasn't trying to be clever, and I wasn't trying to derail a conversation that wasn't even happening.. but it seems I sure was stating a fact. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] PissinSelfNdriveway@sh.itjust.works -2 points 2 years ago* Leonard, I give zero fucks about fake Internet points, I wasn't trying to be clever, and I wasn't trying to derail a conversation that wasn't even happening.. but it seems I sure was stating a fact. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] waz@lemmy.world 20 points 3 years ago (5 children) Similarly, and also often misunderstood... Peacock only refers to the males. A female is called a peahen. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 10 child comments replies: [–] fubo@lemmy.world 9 points 3 years ago (1 child) Collectively they are an ungodly ruckus of peafowl. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] DokPsy@infosec.pub 4 points 3 years ago (1 child) Honestly not sure which is worse. Peafowl or guinea fowl permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 3 points 2 years ago (1 child) I've lived near both, and only one made me think that children were being murdered nearby. Peafowl sound like nightmares. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] MrShankles@reddthat.com 3 points 2 years ago First time I heard peafowl at night, I honestly thought a woman was being murdered in the distance or something. I was a kid and had to ask my parents what was going on. I almost didn't believe them because I didn't even know there were peafowl down the road at all. But that memory always stuck with me lol permalink fedilink source parent [–] SgtAStrawberry@lemmy.world 8 points 3 years ago That is such a logical thing, when you think about it. permalink fedilink source parent [–] PissinSelfNdriveway@sh.itjust.works 6 points 3 years ago (1 child) My parents have several peacreatures...... a refer to them as shut the fuck up.... they are the donkeys of birds and should be exterminated. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] gazter@aussie.zone 4 points 2 years ago (1 child) "Look at me, I'm so pretty!" "AHHHHH-RAAAAAAAAAH! AH-RAH! AHHHHH RAAAAAAAAAAA!" permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] PissinSelfNdriveway@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 years ago I live a 1/2 mile or so away and down a different road but they still sound like they are in my yard screaming..... the first one they got immediately flew away, so then they had to make a giant outdoor cage with a roof to keep the next ones in..... I'm not a genius but I believe if you have to build a outdoor prison compound to keep in your stupid screaming birds you should probably find a different hobby. permalink fedilink source parent [–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 3 points 3 years ago Oh yeah! That's a good one too! permalink fedilink source parent [–] Feathercrown@lemmy.world 1 point 2 years ago* You say peacock and nobody bats an eye... but you say poopcock and everyone LOSES THEIR MINDS - The Joker permalink fedilink source parent
[–] fubo@lemmy.world 9 points 3 years ago (1 child) Collectively they are an ungodly ruckus of peafowl. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] DokPsy@infosec.pub 4 points 3 years ago (1 child) Honestly not sure which is worse. Peafowl or guinea fowl permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 3 points 2 years ago (1 child) I've lived near both, and only one made me think that children were being murdered nearby. Peafowl sound like nightmares. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] MrShankles@reddthat.com 3 points 2 years ago First time I heard peafowl at night, I honestly thought a woman was being murdered in the distance or something. I was a kid and had to ask my parents what was going on. I almost didn't believe them because I didn't even know there were peafowl down the road at all. But that memory always stuck with me lol permalink fedilink source parent
[–] DokPsy@infosec.pub 4 points 3 years ago (1 child) Honestly not sure which is worse. Peafowl or guinea fowl permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 3 points 2 years ago (1 child) I've lived near both, and only one made me think that children were being murdered nearby. Peafowl sound like nightmares. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] MrShankles@reddthat.com 3 points 2 years ago First time I heard peafowl at night, I honestly thought a woman was being murdered in the distance or something. I was a kid and had to ask my parents what was going on. I almost didn't believe them because I didn't even know there were peafowl down the road at all. But that memory always stuck with me lol permalink fedilink source parent
[–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 3 points 2 years ago (1 child) I've lived near both, and only one made me think that children were being murdered nearby. Peafowl sound like nightmares. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] MrShankles@reddthat.com 3 points 2 years ago First time I heard peafowl at night, I honestly thought a woman was being murdered in the distance or something. I was a kid and had to ask my parents what was going on. I almost didn't believe them because I didn't even know there were peafowl down the road at all. But that memory always stuck with me lol permalink fedilink source parent
[–] MrShankles@reddthat.com 3 points 2 years ago First time I heard peafowl at night, I honestly thought a woman was being murdered in the distance or something. I was a kid and had to ask my parents what was going on. I almost didn't believe them because I didn't even know there were peafowl down the road at all. But that memory always stuck with me lol permalink fedilink source parent
[–] SgtAStrawberry@lemmy.world 8 points 3 years ago That is such a logical thing, when you think about it. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] PissinSelfNdriveway@sh.itjust.works 6 points 3 years ago (1 child) My parents have several peacreatures...... a refer to them as shut the fuck up.... they are the donkeys of birds and should be exterminated. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] gazter@aussie.zone 4 points 2 years ago (1 child) "Look at me, I'm so pretty!" "AHHHHH-RAAAAAAAAAH! AH-RAH! AHHHHH RAAAAAAAAAAA!" permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] PissinSelfNdriveway@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 years ago I live a 1/2 mile or so away and down a different road but they still sound like they are in my yard screaming..... the first one they got immediately flew away, so then they had to make a giant outdoor cage with a roof to keep the next ones in..... I'm not a genius but I believe if you have to build a outdoor prison compound to keep in your stupid screaming birds you should probably find a different hobby. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] gazter@aussie.zone 4 points 2 years ago (1 child) "Look at me, I'm so pretty!" "AHHHHH-RAAAAAAAAAH! AH-RAH! AHHHHH RAAAAAAAAAAA!" permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] PissinSelfNdriveway@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 years ago I live a 1/2 mile or so away and down a different road but they still sound like they are in my yard screaming..... the first one they got immediately flew away, so then they had to make a giant outdoor cage with a roof to keep the next ones in..... I'm not a genius but I believe if you have to build a outdoor prison compound to keep in your stupid screaming birds you should probably find a different hobby. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] PissinSelfNdriveway@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 years ago I live a 1/2 mile or so away and down a different road but they still sound like they are in my yard screaming..... the first one they got immediately flew away, so then they had to make a giant outdoor cage with a roof to keep the next ones in..... I'm not a genius but I believe if you have to build a outdoor prison compound to keep in your stupid screaming birds you should probably find a different hobby. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 3 points 3 years ago Oh yeah! That's a good one too! permalink fedilink source parent
[–] Feathercrown@lemmy.world 1 point 2 years ago* You say peacock and nobody bats an eye... but you say poopcock and everyone LOSES THEIR MINDS - The Joker permalink fedilink source parent
[–] itsprobablyfine@feddit.uk 8 points 3 years ago (3 children) Wait. The singular of cattle is cattle? I think that's the part that confuses me. Or is there no singular and you must use cow/bull? Either way I've never really thought about it and now I can't not permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 6 child comments replies: [–] fubo@lemmy.world 14 points 3 years ago* "Cattle" is a mass noun. You have a lot of cattle. If you want to state a number of them, you have seventy-two head of cattle. "Head" is a counter; compare "sheets of paper", "bales of hay", or "hands of poker". You wouldn't say you have fifty hay, or that you played five pokers. And "papers" (count noun) are written works, whereas "paper" (mass noun) or "sheets of paper" (mass noun with counter) is what the works are written on. If you're in the cattle business, you absolutely do care about their age, sex, and reproductive status. So you might have one calf and six cows; or three steers; or two heifers, a yearling calf, and a bull. If you really need to refer to one bovine without talking about its age, sex, or reproductive status ... you have one head of cattle, or you have a cattlebeast. Yep, that's a thing. permalink fedilink source parent [–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 7 points 3 years ago Actually, your already familiar with this: Moose. One Moose. Two Moose. Male is a bull. Female is a cow. 🤯 permalink fedilink source parent [–] xantoxis@lemmy.world 3 points 3 years ago No, the person you're replying to is just wrong. The common name for that animal is cow, and in common usage it can refer to both sexes. Cattle is the plural. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] fubo@lemmy.world 14 points 3 years ago* "Cattle" is a mass noun. You have a lot of cattle. If you want to state a number of them, you have seventy-two head of cattle. "Head" is a counter; compare "sheets of paper", "bales of hay", or "hands of poker". You wouldn't say you have fifty hay, or that you played five pokers. And "papers" (count noun) are written works, whereas "paper" (mass noun) or "sheets of paper" (mass noun with counter) is what the works are written on. If you're in the cattle business, you absolutely do care about their age, sex, and reproductive status. So you might have one calf and six cows; or three steers; or two heifers, a yearling calf, and a bull. If you really need to refer to one bovine without talking about its age, sex, or reproductive status ... you have one head of cattle, or you have a cattlebeast. Yep, that's a thing. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 7 points 3 years ago Actually, your already familiar with this: Moose. One Moose. Two Moose. Male is a bull. Female is a cow. 🤯 permalink fedilink source parent
[–] xantoxis@lemmy.world 3 points 3 years ago No, the person you're replying to is just wrong. The common name for that animal is cow, and in common usage it can refer to both sexes. Cattle is the plural. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] lvxferre@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 years ago (1 child) Words don't work this way. They more often than not have multiple, somewhat overlapping, meanings. For example, Wiktionary lists five meanings for the word, when it comes to quadrupeds: (strictly) An adult female of the species Bos taurus, especially one that has calved. (loosely or informal) Any member of the species Bos taurus regardless of sex or age, including bulls and calves. (uncommon) Beef: the meat of cattle as food. (uncommon) Any bovines or bovids generally, including yaks, buffalo, etc. (biology) A female member of other large species of mammal, including the bovines, moose, whales, seals, hippos, rhinos, manatees, and elephants. You're likely referring to meaning #4 or #5, but keep in mind that #1 is the most common and #2 is likely the original one (due to the cognates). permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago (1 child) See in number 2, where it says loosely or informal? That means, "people have said this wrong for so long, that some may become argumentative if you try to tell them it's wrong." Kind of like how literally, literally means literally, but it was funny to say literally when you meant figuratively, so literally literally is literally literally figuratively literally. Literally. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] lvxferre@lemmy.ml 1 point 2 years ago* "Loosely or informal" solely means that it's associated with an informal register, specially in contrast with #1. Any claim past is assumption. "Wrong" is relative. Which is the standard/reference that you're using for contrast? Your own usage? And odds are that #2 is the original meaning. It isn't like "people suddenly started to refer to Bos taurus regardless of sex", it's more like "people have been using it with this meaning for thousands of years". #1 (the more common meaning) is likely the result of semantic narrowing, and #5 (the one that you're defending as "correct") is probably fairly recent. None of those meanings should be seen as "incorrect", but picking on a meaning that backtracks all the way into Proto-Indo-European is extremely obtuse. (And no, the situation is nothing like the one for "literally".) permalink fedilink source parent
[–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago (1 child) See in number 2, where it says loosely or informal? That means, "people have said this wrong for so long, that some may become argumentative if you try to tell them it's wrong." Kind of like how literally, literally means literally, but it was funny to say literally when you meant figuratively, so literally literally is literally literally figuratively literally. Literally. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] lvxferre@lemmy.ml 1 point 2 years ago* "Loosely or informal" solely means that it's associated with an informal register, specially in contrast with #1. Any claim past is assumption. "Wrong" is relative. Which is the standard/reference that you're using for contrast? Your own usage? And odds are that #2 is the original meaning. It isn't like "people suddenly started to refer to Bos taurus regardless of sex", it's more like "people have been using it with this meaning for thousands of years". #1 (the more common meaning) is likely the result of semantic narrowing, and #5 (the one that you're defending as "correct") is probably fairly recent. None of those meanings should be seen as "incorrect", but picking on a meaning that backtracks all the way into Proto-Indo-European is extremely obtuse. (And no, the situation is nothing like the one for "literally".) permalink fedilink source parent
[–] lvxferre@lemmy.ml 1 point 2 years ago* "Loosely or informal" solely means that it's associated with an informal register, specially in contrast with #1. Any claim past is assumption. "Wrong" is relative. Which is the standard/reference that you're using for contrast? Your own usage? And odds are that #2 is the original meaning. It isn't like "people suddenly started to refer to Bos taurus regardless of sex", it's more like "people have been using it with this meaning for thousands of years". #1 (the more common meaning) is likely the result of semantic narrowing, and #5 (the one that you're defending as "correct") is probably fairly recent. None of those meanings should be seen as "incorrect", but picking on a meaning that backtracks all the way into Proto-Indo-European is extremely obtuse. (And no, the situation is nothing like the one for "literally".) permalink fedilink source parent
[–] oNevion@lemm.ee 1 point 3 years ago (1 child) Wut. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 7 points 3 years ago (2 children) I'm not sure if your mind is blown because you also didn't know that, or you don't understand what I'm saying. I could clarify if you'd like, but you'll have to let me know what you mean by Wut. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 4 child comments replies: [–] Skyhighatrist@lemmy.ca 7 points 3 years ago (1 child) What you've said is technically correct (the best kind of correct). But the word cattle is also used to refer to other similar animals such as Yak, Bison, Buffalo. Merriam-Webster defines cattle as : domesticated quadrupeds held as property or raised for use specifically : bovine animals on a farm or ranch Cambridge defines it as: a group of animals that includes cows, buffalo, and bison, that are often kept for their milk or meat And Oxford as: cows and bulls that are kept as farm animals for their milk or meat Wikipedia is more specific and defines it as: Cattle or oxen (Bos taurus) are large, domesticated, bovid ungulates. They are prominent modern members of the subfamily Bovinae and the most widespread species of the genus Bos. Not disputing your fact at all, just clarifying that words often have multiple meanings and meanings also change over time according to popular usage, so saying cattle means livestock isn't necessarily wrong, it's just not as precise as the technical definition. And the more people that use it that way the more correct it becomes. As I dove deeper into the topic, I'm seeing evidence that suggests that Cattle is also an American term that means Livestock, but is marked as archaic. Which honestly makes sense as the word's etymology is the following according to Merriam-Webster: Middle English catel, cadel "property (whether real or personal), goods, treasure, livestock, (in plural cateles) possessions," borrowed from Anglo-French katil "property, goods, wealth," borrowed from medieval French (dialects of Picardy and French Flanders) catel, going back to Medieval Latin capitāle "movable property, riches," (in Anglo-Saxon law texts) "head of cattle," noun derivative from neuter of capitālis "of the head, chief, principal" Anyway, good fact nonetheless. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 3 points 3 years ago (1 child) Yeah. I often heard cattle used in that way, so that's why I thought it. So, no it's not wrong, but it was pretty wild to learn that it wasn't completely correct. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Skyhighatrist@lemmy.ca 2 points 3 years ago* (1 child) What's wild to me is that humans decided to name a whole-ass species "Property". permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 4 points 3 years ago (1 child) I think it's the other way around. Like you might call a bunch of mindless followers "sheep". We didn't name the animal after those people, we started using the word that way because it reminded us of the animal. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Skyhighatrist@lemmy.ca 2 points 3 years ago* (1 child) The etymology suggests that originally we just called livestock cattle (i.e. these are My animals, my property), and the name was so ubiquitous that when it came time to give the specific species a name, it stuck. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 2 points 3 years ago I just assumed otherwise, because that's pretty funny if it's true. permalink fedilink source parent [–] oNevion@lemm.ee 4 points 3 years ago Definitely meant as in I had no idea either and you helped me learn something today ☺️ permalink fedilink source parent
[–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 7 points 3 years ago (2 children) I'm not sure if your mind is blown because you also didn't know that, or you don't understand what I'm saying. I could clarify if you'd like, but you'll have to let me know what you mean by Wut. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 4 child comments replies: [–] Skyhighatrist@lemmy.ca 7 points 3 years ago (1 child) What you've said is technically correct (the best kind of correct). But the word cattle is also used to refer to other similar animals such as Yak, Bison, Buffalo. Merriam-Webster defines cattle as : domesticated quadrupeds held as property or raised for use specifically : bovine animals on a farm or ranch Cambridge defines it as: a group of animals that includes cows, buffalo, and bison, that are often kept for their milk or meat And Oxford as: cows and bulls that are kept as farm animals for their milk or meat Wikipedia is more specific and defines it as: Cattle or oxen (Bos taurus) are large, domesticated, bovid ungulates. They are prominent modern members of the subfamily Bovinae and the most widespread species of the genus Bos. Not disputing your fact at all, just clarifying that words often have multiple meanings and meanings also change over time according to popular usage, so saying cattle means livestock isn't necessarily wrong, it's just not as precise as the technical definition. And the more people that use it that way the more correct it becomes. As I dove deeper into the topic, I'm seeing evidence that suggests that Cattle is also an American term that means Livestock, but is marked as archaic. Which honestly makes sense as the word's etymology is the following according to Merriam-Webster: Middle English catel, cadel "property (whether real or personal), goods, treasure, livestock, (in plural cateles) possessions," borrowed from Anglo-French katil "property, goods, wealth," borrowed from medieval French (dialects of Picardy and French Flanders) catel, going back to Medieval Latin capitāle "movable property, riches," (in Anglo-Saxon law texts) "head of cattle," noun derivative from neuter of capitālis "of the head, chief, principal" Anyway, good fact nonetheless. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 3 points 3 years ago (1 child) Yeah. I often heard cattle used in that way, so that's why I thought it. So, no it's not wrong, but it was pretty wild to learn that it wasn't completely correct. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Skyhighatrist@lemmy.ca 2 points 3 years ago* (1 child) What's wild to me is that humans decided to name a whole-ass species "Property". permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 4 points 3 years ago (1 child) I think it's the other way around. Like you might call a bunch of mindless followers "sheep". We didn't name the animal after those people, we started using the word that way because it reminded us of the animal. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Skyhighatrist@lemmy.ca 2 points 3 years ago* (1 child) The etymology suggests that originally we just called livestock cattle (i.e. these are My animals, my property), and the name was so ubiquitous that when it came time to give the specific species a name, it stuck. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 2 points 3 years ago I just assumed otherwise, because that's pretty funny if it's true. permalink fedilink source parent [–] oNevion@lemm.ee 4 points 3 years ago Definitely meant as in I had no idea either and you helped me learn something today ☺️ permalink fedilink source parent
[–] Skyhighatrist@lemmy.ca 7 points 3 years ago (1 child) What you've said is technically correct (the best kind of correct). But the word cattle is also used to refer to other similar animals such as Yak, Bison, Buffalo. Merriam-Webster defines cattle as : domesticated quadrupeds held as property or raised for use specifically : bovine animals on a farm or ranch Cambridge defines it as: a group of animals that includes cows, buffalo, and bison, that are often kept for their milk or meat And Oxford as: cows and bulls that are kept as farm animals for their milk or meat Wikipedia is more specific and defines it as: Cattle or oxen (Bos taurus) are large, domesticated, bovid ungulates. They are prominent modern members of the subfamily Bovinae and the most widespread species of the genus Bos. Not disputing your fact at all, just clarifying that words often have multiple meanings and meanings also change over time according to popular usage, so saying cattle means livestock isn't necessarily wrong, it's just not as precise as the technical definition. And the more people that use it that way the more correct it becomes. As I dove deeper into the topic, I'm seeing evidence that suggests that Cattle is also an American term that means Livestock, but is marked as archaic. Which honestly makes sense as the word's etymology is the following according to Merriam-Webster: Middle English catel, cadel "property (whether real or personal), goods, treasure, livestock, (in plural cateles) possessions," borrowed from Anglo-French katil "property, goods, wealth," borrowed from medieval French (dialects of Picardy and French Flanders) catel, going back to Medieval Latin capitāle "movable property, riches," (in Anglo-Saxon law texts) "head of cattle," noun derivative from neuter of capitālis "of the head, chief, principal" Anyway, good fact nonetheless. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 3 points 3 years ago (1 child) Yeah. I often heard cattle used in that way, so that's why I thought it. So, no it's not wrong, but it was pretty wild to learn that it wasn't completely correct. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Skyhighatrist@lemmy.ca 2 points 3 years ago* (1 child) What's wild to me is that humans decided to name a whole-ass species "Property". permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 4 points 3 years ago (1 child) I think it's the other way around. Like you might call a bunch of mindless followers "sheep". We didn't name the animal after those people, we started using the word that way because it reminded us of the animal. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Skyhighatrist@lemmy.ca 2 points 3 years ago* (1 child) The etymology suggests that originally we just called livestock cattle (i.e. these are My animals, my property), and the name was so ubiquitous that when it came time to give the specific species a name, it stuck. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 2 points 3 years ago I just assumed otherwise, because that's pretty funny if it's true. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 3 points 3 years ago (1 child) Yeah. I often heard cattle used in that way, so that's why I thought it. So, no it's not wrong, but it was pretty wild to learn that it wasn't completely correct. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Skyhighatrist@lemmy.ca 2 points 3 years ago* (1 child) What's wild to me is that humans decided to name a whole-ass species "Property". permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 4 points 3 years ago (1 child) I think it's the other way around. Like you might call a bunch of mindless followers "sheep". We didn't name the animal after those people, we started using the word that way because it reminded us of the animal. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Skyhighatrist@lemmy.ca 2 points 3 years ago* (1 child) The etymology suggests that originally we just called livestock cattle (i.e. these are My animals, my property), and the name was so ubiquitous that when it came time to give the specific species a name, it stuck. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 2 points 3 years ago I just assumed otherwise, because that's pretty funny if it's true. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] Skyhighatrist@lemmy.ca 2 points 3 years ago* (1 child) What's wild to me is that humans decided to name a whole-ass species "Property". permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 4 points 3 years ago (1 child) I think it's the other way around. Like you might call a bunch of mindless followers "sheep". We didn't name the animal after those people, we started using the word that way because it reminded us of the animal. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Skyhighatrist@lemmy.ca 2 points 3 years ago* (1 child) The etymology suggests that originally we just called livestock cattle (i.e. these are My animals, my property), and the name was so ubiquitous that when it came time to give the specific species a name, it stuck. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 2 points 3 years ago I just assumed otherwise, because that's pretty funny if it's true. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 4 points 3 years ago (1 child) I think it's the other way around. Like you might call a bunch of mindless followers "sheep". We didn't name the animal after those people, we started using the word that way because it reminded us of the animal. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Skyhighatrist@lemmy.ca 2 points 3 years ago* (1 child) The etymology suggests that originally we just called livestock cattle (i.e. these are My animals, my property), and the name was so ubiquitous that when it came time to give the specific species a name, it stuck. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 2 points 3 years ago I just assumed otherwise, because that's pretty funny if it's true. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] Skyhighatrist@lemmy.ca 2 points 3 years ago* (1 child) The etymology suggests that originally we just called livestock cattle (i.e. these are My animals, my property), and the name was so ubiquitous that when it came time to give the specific species a name, it stuck. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 2 points 3 years ago I just assumed otherwise, because that's pretty funny if it's true. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] Rhynoplaz@lemmy.world 2 points 3 years ago I just assumed otherwise, because that's pretty funny if it's true. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] oNevion@lemm.ee 4 points 3 years ago Definitely meant as in I had no idea either and you helped me learn something today ☺️ permalink fedilink source parent