f. [dhayati sutān, dhīyate vatsairvā, dhe-nu icca Tv.] 1 A cow, milch-cow; dhenu dhīrāḥ sūnṛtāṃ vācamāhuḥ U. 5. 31.

2 The female of a species (affixed to the names of other animals in this sense); as khaḍgadhenuḥ, vaḍavadhenuḥ &c.

3 The earth. (Sometimes at the end of comp. dhenu forms a diminu- tive; as asidhenuḥ, khaḍgadhenuḥ).

4 A gift, present. Comp. makṣikā a gadfly.