freemartin
(ˈfriːˌmɑːtɪn)
[Of unknown origin: cf. Ir., Gael. mart, heifer.]
A hermaphrodite or imperfect female of the ox kind: see quot. 1790.
| 1681 Lond. Gaz. No. 1651/4 The Heifer..is supposed to be Spaied, or else a Free-Martin. 1779 J. Hunter in Phil. Trans. LXIX. 279 Account of the Free-martin. 1790 T. Bewick Hist. Quadrupeds (1807) 28 When a Cow happens to bring forth two calves—one of them a male, the other a female,—the former is a perfect animal, but the latter is incapable of propagation, and is well known to farmers under the denomination of a Free Martin. 1856 Farmer's Mag. Jan. 56 Freemartins and Spayed Heifers are not qualified. |
b. transf. Said of a sheep.
| a 1722 Lisle Husb. (1757) 361 An ewe-sheep, that is a free-martin..has a..lanker bearing than other sheep. |