cowboy
[ kou-boi ]
/ ˈkaʊˌbɔɪ /
noun
a man who herds and tends cattle on a ranch, especially in the western U.S., and who traditionally goes about most of his work on horseback.
a man who exhibits the skills attributed to such cowboys, especially in rodeos.
Chiefly Northeastern U.S. a reckless or speedy automobile driver.
Informal. a reckless or irresponsible person, especially a show-off or one who undertakes a dangerous or sensitive task heedlessly: They put foreign policy in the hands of cowboys.
(during the American Revolution) a member of a pro-British guerrilla band that operated between the American and British lines near New York City.
verb (used without object)
to work as a cowboy.
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for cowboy
British Dictionary definitions for cowboy
cowboy
/ (ˈkaʊˌbɔɪ) /
noun
Also called: cowhand a hired man who herds and tends cattle, usually on horseback, esp in the western US
a conventional character of Wild West folklore, films, etc, esp one involved in fighting Indians
informal
- a person who is an irresponsible or unscrupulous operator in business
- (as modifier)cowboy contractors; cowboy shop steward
Australian a man or boy who tends cattle
Derived Formscowgirl, fem n
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for cowboy
cowboy
1725, "boy who tends to cows," from cow (n.) + boy. Sense in Western U.S. is from 1849; in figurative use by 1942 for "brash and reckless young man" (as an adjective meaning "reckless," from 1920s). Cowhand is first attested 1852 in American English (see hand (n.)). Cowpoke (said to be 1881, not in popular use until 1940s) was said to be originally restricted to the cowboys who prodded cattle onto railroad cars with long poles.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper