cowcatcher

[ kou-kach-er ]

/ ˈkaʊˌkætʃ ər /

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noun

a triangular frame at the front of a locomotive, especially a steam locomotive, designed for clearing the track of obstructions.

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Also called pilot.

Origin of cowcatcher

An Americanism dating back to 1830–40; cow¹ + catcher

Words nearby cowcatcher

cowboy boot, cowboy hat, cowboys and Indians, cowboy up, cow cake, cowcatcher, cow chips, cow cocky, cow college, cow country, Cowden's disease

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use cowcatcher in a sentence

And this train, which was just a bunch of cardboard with a cowcatcher attached to it, was pushed into view by a bunch of people.
Ralph Fiennes Discusses ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel,’ J. Lo, and That ‘Seinfeld’ Episode|Marlow Stern|March 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And I never had much trouble with the Spiggoties, what of letting them sneak free rides in the tender or on the cowcatcher.
The Red One|Jack London
But we will spoil their game I guess, and I don't think the railroad company will complain at the loss of a cowcatcher.
Frontier Boys in Frisco|Wyn Roosevelt
Don made his way up to the locomotive and found a bigger knot of people gathered in front of the cowcatcher.
And Then the Town Took Off|Richard Wilson

The engine itself had most of the cowcatcher torn off and the headlight smashed.
Frontier Boys in Frisco|Wyn Roosevelt
He gave it in charge of the other man, and then he climbed over the engine, and he came down on the cowcatcher.
Railway Adventures and Anecdotes|Various

British Dictionary definitions for cowcatcher

cowcatcher

/ (ˈkaʊˌkætʃə) /

noun

US and Canadian a metal frame on the front of a locomotive to clear the track of animals or other obstructions

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012