noun
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a bell hung around a cow's neck so that the cow can be easily located
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a metal percussion instrument usually mounted on the bass drum or hand-held and struck with a drumstick
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another name for bladder campion
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of cowbell
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Even megastar Bruno Mars joins in on the fun, gamely rapping the cowbell on “Never Wanna Lose You.”
From Salon ● Jul. 13, 2026
But much of the nation is sick of the cowbell, crying out for some economic harmony.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 29, 2026
"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 ● Oct. 20, 2025
They walked through the remains Wednesday and took solace in what they could find among the wreckage — a cowbell, a Franciscan Apple china teacup and a Virgin Mary statue.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 11, 2025
My head rang around the clock from that cowbell clanging at my spelling.
From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck
The WBC allowed fans to bring in 16 “permissible instruments,” including bongos, cowbells, maracas and trumpets.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 18, 2026
Von Allmen, however, was a picture of celebration after his storming run, the large number of baying Swiss fans in the packed tribune wildly applauding their hero, flags waved, cowbells heaved and air horns blown.
From Barron's ● Feb. 11, 2026
They showed up with cowbells, confetti, live music—and sometimes beer and caviar?!
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2025
You will not come into this expecting to learn about the history and musical significance of cowbells from Dave Grohl, but you will.
From Salon ● Jan. 16, 2025
Over the clatter of knife and plate and the low mutter of table talk, he heard Patchface singing, . . dance, my lord, dance my lord,” to the accompaniment of jangling cowbells.
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
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