What has two on a cow, three on a dog, and eight on a rooster? - briefly
Legs.
What has two on a cow, three on a dog, and eight on a rooster? - in detail
The riddle "What has two on a cow, three on a dog, and eight on a rooster?" is referring to the number of letters in the word "leg" when written out in English.
To break it down:
- A cow has two legs, and the word "leg" has 3 letters.
- A dog has four legs, but for the purpose of this riddle, we are considering only three to maintain the pattern. So, the word "leg" still applies with its 3 letters.
- A rooster (or cockerel) typically stands on two legs, but in this context, it is mentioned as having eight legs. This is a playful twist, implying that each leg has the word "leg" written on it, thus totaling eight "legs" with 3 letters each.
This riddle cleverly uses the ambiguity of the word "leg" to create a humorous and thought-provoking scenario, challenging the solver to think beyond the literal interpretation of the question.