cowslip

/ˈkaʊ.slɪp/

//ˈkaʊ.slɪp// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"cowslip" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“cowslip” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
7
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A low-growing plant, Primula veris, with yellow flowers.

Key facts for cowslip
PropertyValue
Headwordcowslip
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈkaʊ.slɪp/
Letters7
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “cowslip” sits in English frequency

cowslip falls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

cowslip is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈkaʊ.slɪp/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 7 senses are on record.

Zero misspellings are on record for cowslip in our index, a sign its spelling follows regular English conventions. No confusable counterpart is on file for this word, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English cowslyppe, from Old English cūslyppe (“cowslip”), from cū (“cow”) + slyppe (“paste, viscid substance”), related to Old English slūpan (“to slip, glide, move softly”). Compare oxlip. The correct English form is cowslip, spelled C-O-W-S-L-I-P.

Definition

  1. 1
    A low-growing plant, Primula veris, with yellow flowers.
  2. 2
    Any of several other plants related or similar in appearance
  3. 3
    Any of several other plants related or similar in appearance
  4. 4
    Any of several other plants related or similar in appearance
  5. 5
    Any of several other plants related or similar in appearance
  6. 6
    Any of several other plants related or similar in appearance
  7. 7
    Ellipsis of cowslip tea: a kind of green tea; an herbal tea made with cowslip flowers.

Etymology

From Middle English cowslyppe, from Old English cūslyppe (“cowslip”), from cū (“cow”) + slyppe (“paste, viscid substance”), related to Old English slūpan (“to slip, glide, move softly”). Compare oxlip.

Synonyms

paigleherb Petermarsh marigoldkingcupmayflowermollyblobspollyblobshorse blob

This word in other languages

aurícula(Español)Schlüsselblume(Deutsch)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "cowslip"?
"cowslip" is spelled C-O-W-S-L-I-P. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈkaʊ.slɪp/.
What does "cowslip" mean?
As a noun, "cowslip" means: A low-growing plant, Primula veris, with yellow flowers.
How do you pronounce "cowslip"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "cowslip" is /ˈkaʊ.slɪp/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "cowslip"?
From Middle English cowslyppe, from Old English cūslyppe (“cowslip”), from cū (“cow”) + slyppe (“paste, viscid substance”), related to Old English slūpan (“to slip, glide, move softly”). Compare oxlip. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “cowslip”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is C-O-W-S-L-I-P - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈkaʊ.slɪp/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list