Sonchus oleraceus

Sow Sow, n. [OE. sowe, suwe, AS. sugu, akin to s[=u], D. zog, zeug, OHG. s[=u], G. sau, Icel. s[=y]r, Dan. so, Sw. sugga, so, L. sus. Gr. "y^s, sy^s, Zend. hu boar; probably from the root seen in Skr. s[=u] to beget, to bear; the animal being named in allusion to its fecundity. [root]294. Cf. {Hyena}, {Soil} to stain, {Son}, {Swine}.] 1. (Zo["o]l.) The female of swine, or of the hog kind. [1913 Webster]

2. (Zo["o]l.) A sow bug. [1913 Webster]

3. (Metal.) (a) A channel or runner which receives the rows of molds in the pig bed. (b) The bar of metal which remains in such a runner. (c) A mass of solidified metal in a furnace hearth; a salamander. [1913 Webster]

4. (Mil.) A kind of covered shed, formerly used by besiegers in filling up and passing the ditch of a besieged place, sapping and mining the wall, or the like. --Craig. [1913 Webster]

{Sow bread}. (Bot.) See {Cyclamen}.

{Sow bug}, or {Sowbug} (Zo["o]l.), any one of numerous species of terrestrial {Isopoda} belonging to {Oniscus}, {Porcellio}, and allied genera of the family {Oniscid[ae]}. They feed chiefly on decaying vegetable substances.

{Sow thistle} [AS. sugepistel] (Bot.), a composite plant ({Sonchus oleraceus}) said to be eaten by swine and some other animals. [1913 Webster]