cud

UK: /ˈkʌd/ US: /kʌd/ ,(kud)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

cud /kʌd/   n. [uncountable]

1. Zoology the coarse food that a cow, goat, etc., brings back up from its first stomach to its mouth for further chewing.

Idioms

2. Idioms chew one's or the cud, Informal. to think about something deeply;
   meditate or ponder.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

cud  (kud), n. 

1. Zoology the portion of food that a ruminant returns from the first stomach to the mouth to chew a second time.
2. Slang Terms [Dial.] quid¹.
3. chew one's or the cud, [Informal.] to meditate or ponder;
   ruminate.

• bef. 1000; Middle English; Old English cudu, variant of cwiodu, cwidu; akin to Old High German quiti glue, Sanskrit jatu resin, gum. See quid¹

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

cud / kʌd/ noun

1. partially digested food regurgitated from the first stomach of cattle and other ruminants to the mouth for a second chewing
2. chew the cud ⇒ to reflect or think over something

Etymology: Old English cudu, from cwidu what has been chewed; related to Old Norse kvātha resin (for chewing), Old High German quiti glue, Sanskrit jatu rubber