What does cowslip mean?
The cowslip is a perennial wildflower of European meadows and grasslands, Primula veris, celebrated for its nodding clusters of richly scented, egg-yolk-yellow flowers that appear in mid to late spring. Each bloom hangs from a slender stalk gathered at the top of a single upright stem — a habit that separates it from its close relative the primrose, whose flowers sit singly on their own stalks. The name is a piece of medieval earthiness: Old English cū-slyppe, roughly 'cow slop,' reflecting the plant's fondness for well-manured pastureland. Cowslips have long been woven into British rural culture, used to flavour wine, strung into May Day garlands, and immortalised by Shakespeare. Though traditional hay meadows have declined, conservation efforts have made the cowslip an emblem of restored countryside, and it remains a familiar and much-loved sign of spring across Britain and much of Europe.
nounA wild Eurasian primrose (Primula veris) bearing clusters of fragrant, drooping, deep-yellow flowers on a single tall stem, blooming in spring; also called paigle. In North America, the name is sometimes applied loosely to marsh marigold.
- The spring-flowering plant Primula veris, with clusters of drooping yellow blooms.
- (North American usage) A common name for the marsh marigold (Caltha palustris).
"The old meadow was carpeted with cowslips by the end of April."
"She picked a posy of cowslips from the verge along the lane."
"In Shakespeare's day, cowslips were strewn on May Day and steeped into a mild country wine."
Regular plural; countable when referring to individual plants or flowers, often uncountable when describing massed displays.
"The bank was thick with cowslips in early May."
The word literally means 'cow slop' — medieval English named the flower after the dung-rich pastures where it thrived.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of cowslip
The word descends from the Old English compound cū-slyppe, combining cū ('cow') with slyppe ('slime' or 'dung'), so the flower was literally named 'cow slop' for its abundance in manured fields. It has cognate forms in other Germanic languages, such as Dutch koekoeksbloem-derived names aside, the closest parallels being Scandinavian compounds built on the same 'cow' element. The word has been in continuous English use since the Anglo-Saxon period, appearing widely in Middle English poetry and later in Elizabethan literature.
How cowslip is actually used
Predominantly British in its strict botanical sense; American writers sometimes apply 'cowslip' to the unrelated marsh marigold. The word carries pastoral, nostalgic connotations and appears frequently in English poetry and folklore, notably Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Easily confused with cowslip
The oxlip (Primula elatior) has pale yellow flowers on one side of a taller stem, while the true cowslip bears deeper yellow flowers in a rounded cluster at the top of the stalk.
The primrose (Primula vulgaris) has individual flowers on separate short stalks arising from the base, whereas the cowslip's flowers hang together at the top of a single stem.