Definition of "downer" []

• Slang A depressant or sedative drug, such as a barbiturate or tranquilizer. (noun)
• Slang One that depresses, such as an experience or person. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "And they identified it because the cow was what they call a downer cow."
• "Because this is an older beef cow, and it was what they call a downer cow, meaning it couldn't walk and meat from downer cows is not used in the human food supply."
• "And it is our standard operating procedure that what they call downer animals will be tested if they come to the slaughter facility as a downer animal."