cowbell

[kou-bel]

noun

1. a bell hung around a cow's cow neck to indicate its whereabouts.

2. the bladder campion.

cowbell

/ ˈkaʊˌbɛl /

noun

1. a bell hung around a cow's neck so that the cow can be easily located

2. a metal percussion instrument usually mounted on the bass drum or hand-held and struck with a drumstick

3. another name for bladder campion

Word History and Origins

Origin of cowbell¹

First recorded in 1805–15; cow ¹ + bell ¹

Example Sentences

The pastures replete with cowbells weren’t so much scenic as earthy, the real thing.

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With McCartney’s relentless bass and Ringo Starr’s cowbell propelling the rhythm, “Drive My Car” challenges the highly gendered expectations of the Beatles’ mid-1960s audience.

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Their appearance was a sensation – combining sheer technical skill with a thrilling joie de vivre, as they span their double basses, twirled their trumpets and clattered their cowbells, all while clad in Venezuelan-flag jackets.

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"We have loads of that in our stuff... even the little percussion things that they have, like cowbells and stuff. I think it's amazing."

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He agreed to go to Mississippi State in 2015, ringing a cowbell at his introductory news conference and getting to know quirky football coach Mike Leach.

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