Cow’us or Cowuss (n). pl Cow’uses. Term used in Swaledale and other parts of the Dales for a field barn or ‘cow-house’.
It is essential to understand that while the term ‘barn’ is casually [commonly] used to describe any farm building where hay and perhaps livestock are kept, a specialist (whether the farmer or researcher ) will differentiate between a range of different buildings in farming use. As well as ‘cowuss’, you may encounter ‘hogg houses’ and sheep houses’ (n.b. hoggs are young sheep – not pigs!).
You might find (in Swaledale at least) that using the word ‘barn’ will get you a blank look if you’re talking about a cow’us..
