The word "cud" is spelled with three letters, yet it can have multiple pronunciations. In the most common usage, it is pronounced /kʌd/, with the "u" sound as in "cup" and the stress on the first syllable. However, in some regional dialects, it may be pronounced with a long "oo" sound, as in /ku:d/. Regardless of regional variation, the spelling of "cud" remains consistent, making it a prime example of the sometimes inconsistent relationship between English spelling and pronunciation.
Cud is a noun that refers to the partially digested food that ruminant animals bring up from their first stomach compartment, the rumen, to chew again. This process is known as rumination or chewing the cud. Ruminants, such as cows, sheep, goats, and deer, possess a unique four-compartment stomach that aids in the digestion of plant material. Cud is formed by the action of regurgitation, where the partially digested food in the reticulum of the stomach is returned to the mouth.
Once in the mouth, the animal extensively chews the cud to break it down further, mixing it with saliva to soften and moisten it. This re-chewing process allows for better breakdown of the tough plant fibers and aids in the absorption of nutrients. After thorough mastication, the softened particles are swallowed again, passing through the remaining stomach chambers and undergoing further digestion.
Cud also commonly refers to the specific material being regurgitated and chewed. It typically consists of coarse plant material, such as grass, leaves, or hay, that has been softened and broken down during the initial digestion process. The chewing of cud allows ruminants to extract maximum nutritional value from their plant-based diet, as they can ferment and break down cellulose more effectively than non-ruminant animals.
The food which a ruminating animal, as the cow or sheep, throws up from its first stomach to chew at leisure.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "cud" has its origins in the Old English term "cwidu" (or "cwudu") which meant "couch grass" or "bottom of a river". This Old English term eventually evolved into "cudde" in Middle English, referring to "a lump or portion of anything crushed or pounded". By the 14th century, "cud" specifically denoted the food brought up from the first stomach of a ruminant to be chewed again (such as a cow or sheep). The word "cud" has remained relatively unchanged in its meaning and pronunciation throughout the centuries.