farrow

1 of 3

verb

far·​row ˈfer-(ˌ)ō 

ˈfa-(ˌ)rō

farrowed; farrowing; farrows

transitive verb

: to give birth to (a farrow)

intransitive verb

of swine : to bring forth young

—often used with down

farrow

2 of 3

noun

1

: a litter of pigs

2

: an act of farrowing

farrow

3 of 3

adjective

of a cow

: not pregnant

Examples of farrow in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Fraser’s research was designed to determine whether teeth actually confer a competitive advantage on their owners, and whether teeth clipping at farrowing (birth) hurts a piglet’s chances of survival. —Judith Stone, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019

Fraser and his colleagues have also helped design a farrowing pen for sows that minimizes accidental crushing. —Judith Stone, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019

A few years ago, a proposal (still pending) to put a 25,000-hog farrowing operation in Bayfield County led Dougherty to join the fight against corporate farms. —Nancy Stohs, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 29 Aug. 2017

Boars, particularly farrowing sows protecting their young, can be aggressive, charging and attacking intruders. —Helen MacDonald, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2016

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English farwen, from Old English *feargian, from Old English fearh young pig; akin to Old High German farah young pig, Latin porcus pig

Adjective

Middle English (Scots) ferow

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun

1577, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

farrow

1 of 2 verb

far·​row ˈfar-ō 

: to give birth to pigs

farrow

2 of 2 noun

: a litter of pigs

Medical Definition

farrow

1 of 3 transitive verb

far·​row ˈfar-(ˌ)ō, -ə(-w) 

: to give birth to (a farrow)

intransitive verb

of swine : to bring forth young

—often used with down

farrow

2 of 3 noun

1

: a litter of pigs

2

: an act of farrowing

farrow

3 of 3 adjective

of a cow

: not pregnant