Hi Margaret, Thanks for your response. On further searching I found several web sites which indicate that "hough" is a very old (as in biblical) word for cutting the hamstring, particularly in horses.http://www.dictionary.com/search?q=Hough . I wonder if the word cupled or cuple means to cripple. This certainly makes sense that somebody would cut the hamstrings of the cows in order to cripple them and thereby inhibit their "running around". I don't know how Mr. Gamble got on in his endeavor to find out who did this, but he seemed very upset as his notice offering this reward ran for several weeks in the newspaper. regards Maureen Margaret Lomas wrote: >Maureen >I think this must refer to harm done to the cows,eg. >'Houghed, houghing, houghs. To hock or hamstring' (Dictionary) >Haven't found 'cupled' yet but feel it may be to do with bleeding, -just a >guess. > >Margaret >

Greetings No sign of "cupled" Regards Ivan ============================================================== http://members.aol.com/gulfhigh2/words3.html ============================================================== Collection of Word Oddities and Trivia, Page 3 HOUGH (pronounced hock) is a Scottish word, meaning the ankle joint of a horse, cow, or foul, or to hamstring, or it is an obsolete British word meaning to clear the throat. --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.380 / Virus Database: 213 - Release Date: 24/07/2002