verb / noun
farrow
FAR-oh/ˈfærəʊ/
The production of a litter of piglets.
The sow rests after a farrow, with her newborn piglets nursing beside her.
Etymology
The ancestor meant one young pig, rather than a whole litter. The collective meaning probably developed through the verb meaning “to bring forth piglets,” shifting attention to the offspring born together.
More examples
- She farrowed six piglets.
- The farmer watched the sow farrowing.
- The record noted the farrow.
Forms
farrow · farrows · farrowed · farrowing
Similar words
- litter
- The group of young rather than the birth event.
- give birth
- The general phrase for producing young.