cowboy

[ kou-boi ]

noun

1. 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.
2. a man who exhibits the skills attributed to such cowboys, especially in rodeos.
3. Chiefly Northeastern U.S. a reckless or speedy automobile driver.
4. 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.

5. (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)

1. to work as a cowboy.

cowboy

/ ˈkaʊˌbɔɪ /

noun

1. Also calledcowhand a hired man who herds and tends cattle, usually on horseback, esp in the western US
2. a conventional character of Wild West folklore, films, etc, esp one involved in fighting Indians
3. informal.
   1. a person who is an irresponsible or unscrupulous operator in business
   2. ( as modifier )

      cowboy shop steward

      cowboy contractors

4. a man or boy who tends cattle

Derived Forms

• ˈcowˌgirl, noun:feminine

Word History and Origins

Origin of cowboy¹

First recorded in 1715–25; cow ¹ + boy

Example Sentences

The cowboy, setting out alone across the landscape, accompanied only by his faithful horse and his ten-gallon hat.

From Vox

While some TikTok users lean toward humor — such as the family dancing on a frozen pool or the man who invented a shovel-themed dance in the snow, which he performs in his underwear and a cowboy hat — others are showing the harsh conditions.

From Washington Post

As Dwight Eisenhower watched his inaugural parade from a reviewing stand in 1953, he was lassoed like a runaway steer by a cowboy movie star.

From Washington Post

In the footage, Kawaski Trawick is walking through the hallway of his apartment building in his underwear, a fitted sleeveless jacket and cowboy boots.

From ProPublica

Billy Joe talked the way a modern cowboy would speak, if he stepped out of the West and lived today.

From Washington Post

Thus it attracted a wave of cowboy operators to fly passengers and cargo between cities.

From The Daily Beast

This explains the crumpled look of his beautiful red velvet suit paired with cowboy boots and a flowery style shirt.

From The Daily Beast

And he had a cowboy hat that he liked touching, too—he smoothed the brim back like it was a ducktail haircut.

From The Daily Beast

The notion of a “spread”—the mythical Texas ranch that every Texas cowboy hopes for—fueled his imagination.

From The Daily Beast

George W. Bush is six feet even before slipping on the cowboy boots.

From The Daily Beast

Mr. Nelson elected to ride horseback with Andy Rawlinson, which was the name of the good-looking cowboy.

From Project Gutenberg

"Anyway, git that out of your head about Morgan's ranch never havin' any visitors," said another cowboy.

From Project Gutenberg

"Two of them," he thought exultantly, as he held himself and the cowboy against the trunk of a tree.

From Project Gutenberg

He had struck up quite a liking for the head cowboy, and the two walked along together.

From Project Gutenberg

"I'll send the guns over to Levine's office to-morrow," answered the head cowboy.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bronco