cowbell

American  

[kou-bel] / ˈkaʊˌbɛl /

noun

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

2. the bladder campion.

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cowbell British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of cowbell

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

Example Sentences

They showed up with cowbells, confetti, live music—and sometimes beer and caviar?!

From The Wall Street Journal

"The most important thing isn't to win but to take part," she insisted, hoisting the victory cowbell aloft and giving it a ring.

From Barron's

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

From Los Angeles Times

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.

From Salon

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.

From BBC