In Southern, Appalachian, and rural American speech, a "cow pie" is a flat, round pile of cow manure - named for its shape. The term’s often used literally on farms and jokingly elsewhere for anything messy, smelly, or worthless.
If you're anywhere near a farm out in the country, you'll hear 'cow pie.'
Hillbilly Dude Says...
If you're anywhere near a farm out in the country, you'll hear 'cow pie.'
Pronunciation
[KOW pahy]
/kaʊ paɪ/
Meaning & Usage
- Cow manure; something messy or worthless (noun)
Literal use
Mae:
You best watch your step in that field.
Earl:
Too late - I done found a cow pie.
Figurative use
Hazel:
That idea’s a cow pie if I ever heard one.
variations: cow patty, cow chip, pasture pie
★ A cow pie is NOT a delicacy. ★
Origin and Etymology
The term likely arose in the early 1900s, describing cow manure flattened by hoof or heat until it resembled a pie shape.
It’s part of a larger set of rural euphemisms that use humor to make unpleasant realities sound folksy - similar to "cow patty" or "pasture pie."
Found throughout farming regions, especially in the South and Midwest.
Usage Notes
Common in rural and humorous speech.
Used both literally and figuratively.
"Cow patty" is the slightly more polite version.
Appears in jokes, old TV comedies, and Western slang.
It’s used throughout rural America, including the South, where it’s part of everyday farm talk.
Why "pie"?
The round, flat shape of dried manure resembled a pie, and humor softened the word’s unpleasant meaning.
How to Cite This Page
APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, November 7). Cow Pie. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/cow-pie
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Cow Pie." HillbillySlang.com, 7 Nov. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/cow-pie.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Cow Pie." HillbillySlang.com. November 7, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/definitions/cow-pie.
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Created by a true, actual, proper, real-life hillbilly, HillbillySlang is a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia but reaching across the world. Every slang word, saying, accent and story is gathered from first-hand experience and trusted sources. The goal: preserve authentic voices and share them with writers, learners, and culture lovers everywhere - with a little humor thrown in here and there. Read more...
If you're anywhere near a farm out in the country, you'll hear 'cow pie.' 
