Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A beast two winters old.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun Prov. Eng. A domestic animal two winters old.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun UK, dialect An animal two winters old.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

twi- +‎ winter

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Examples

  • Bardsley explains Twentyman as an imitative corruption of twinter-man, the man in charge of the twinters, two-year-old colts.

    The Romance of Names Ernest Weekley 1909

  • During the time the young male calf is suckled by his mother, he is called a bull-or ox-calf; when turned a year old, he is called a stirk, stot, or yearling; on the completion of his second year, he is called a two-year-old bull or steer (and in some counties a twinter); then, a three-year-old steer; and at four, an ox or a bullock, which latter names are retained till death.

    The Book of Household Management Isabella Mary 1861

  • During the time the young male calf is suckled by his mother, he is called a bull-or ox-calf; when turned a year old, he is called a stirk, stot, or yearling; on the completion of his second year, he is called a two-year-old bull or steer (and in some counties a twinter); then, a three-year-old steer; and at four, an ox or a bullock, which latter names are retained till death.

    The Book of Household Management Isabella Mary 1861

  • a cow-calf; at the age of a year, she is called a yearling quey; in another year, a heifer, or twinter; then, a three-year-old quey or twinter; and, at four years old, a cow.

    The Book of Household Management Isabella Mary 1861

  • a cow-calf; at the age of a year, she is called a yearling quey; in another year, a heifer, or twinter; then, a three-year-old quey or twinter; and, at four years old, a cow.

    The Book of Household Management Isabella Mary 1861

Comments

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  • adj., Of two winters; two years old: said of cattle and sheep (also of colts); or n., A two-year-old cow, ox, horse, or sheep.

    Cf. thrinter.

    August 9, 2008

  • dialectal, British

    : a sheep, ox, or horse that has lived through two winters.

    September 21, 2018