Chichevache

"Lean cow." A fabulous beast which fed solely on obedient wives and which was thus all skin and bone because its food was extremely scarce. Its antipode is the Bicorn, which fed on good and enduring husbands.

The name was introduced by Chaucer, who changed the French chichifache ("thin face," or "ugly face") into Chichivache.

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Lydgate wrote a poem called Bycorne and Chichevache.

References

Sources

  • Cobham Brewer, E. (2001). The Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. Cassell reference.
  • Cooper, J.C., ed. (1997). Brewer's Book of Myth and Legend. Oxford: Helicon Publishing Ltd.