Kuhweiber

Kuhweiber is a term found in some German-speaking rural contexts to refer to women who work with cattle and dairy production on farms. The word is a compound of Kuh (cow) and Weiber, an older or regional form of Weib (woman). It is mainly attested in historical texts, dialect writings, and ethnographic accounts rather than as a standardized job title.

In historical contexts, Kuhweiber described female farm workers who performed milking and related dairy chores. They often worked alongside other farm laborers and, in smaller households, were central to the dairy operation. Their tasks could include milking, caring for calves, cleaning barns, and assisting in cheese making or butter production, as well as selling dairy products at local markets in some communities.

Linguistically, Kuhweiber reflects traditional gendered division of labor in rural economies. In modern German usage, the term is rare and can carry archaic or nostalgic connotations; contemporary language typically employs Milchmagd (dairy maid), Milchwirtin, or similar descriptors.

Geographic variations exist; the term appears more often in certain dialect spheres and historical records than in standard contemporary German. It is typically discussed in ethnographic or folkloristic contexts when illustrating rural life and the role of women in agriculture.

See also: Milchmagd, Dairy farming, Rural women, Ethnography.