Where does “cowpath” come from?

cowpath (English) comes from English path, from Middle English path, from Old English pæþ, from Proto-West Germanic paþ, from Proto-Germanic paþaz, from Proto-Iranian pántaHh, from Proto-Indo-Iranian pántaHs, from Proto-Indo-European pent- — to pass; path.

cowpath (English): A path made by, or used by, cows

Definitions

  1. A path made by, or used by, cows

Ancestry of “cowpath”, step by step

cowpath traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English path

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishpathA trail for the use of, or worn by, pedestrians;...
2Middle EnglishpathAn informal or unpaved path or trail; a track; A...
3Old Englishpæþpath
4Proto-West Germanicpaþpath
5Proto-Germanicpaþazpath
6Proto-IranianpántaHh
7Proto-Indo-IranianpántaHspath
8Proto-Indo-Europeanpent-to pass; path

via English cow

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishcowAn adult female of the species "Bos taurus",...
2Middle EnglishcowAlternative form of cou
3Old Englishcow
4Proto-West Germanic*kōcow
5Proto-Germanic*kōzcow
Every word from Proto-Indo-European pent-