Green’s Dictionary of Slang

(Aus.) unpleasant, objectionable.

1901		Bulletin (Sydney) 10 Aug. 31/1: Yous coves is fine liars, an’ no mistake [...]; yer must be givin’ that there recordin’ angil a fair cow time (puff, puff); but jister give ’im a chance o’ listenin’, I’ll tell yer wot ’appened to me.
1938		(ref. to 1920s) R. McAlmon Being Geniuses Together 111: Why does she not go on the stage herself rather than envying that cow-actress.
1941		J.M. Cain Mildred Pierce (1985) 382: We’ll get Mildred’s pies in here, ’stead of them cow pies we got now.
1970		in P.R. Runkel Law Unto Themselves 258: That lousy clumsy cow doctor!