Meaning

noun early spring flower common in British isles having fragrant yellow or sometimes purple flowers

noun swamp plant of Europe and North America having bright yellow flowers resembling buttercups

originFrom Middle English cowslyppe, from Old English cūslyppe (“cowslip”), from cū (“cow”) + slyppe (“paste, viscid substance”), related to Old English slūpan (“to slip, glide, move softly”). Compare oxlip.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0