pave the cowpath

verb

To formalize an existing de-facto practice.

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Meanings

verbpave the cowpath (third-person singular simple present paves the cowpath, present participle paving the cowpath, simple past and past participle paved the cowpath)

present singular third person paves the cowpath · participle present paving the cowpath · participle past paved the cowpath · past paved the cowpath

  1. figurativelyTo formalize an existing de-facto practice.

Origin

Reflecting the theme that some paved roads of the 20th and 21st centuries were developed over existing rights of way such as earlier cowpaths and footpaths; see also Wikipedia at desire path.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

pave the cowpath. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pave%20the%20cowpath

MLA

“pave the cowpath.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pave%20the%20cowpath. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “pave the cowpath,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/pave%20the%20cowpath.

Source: pave the cowpath on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.