cowcatcher

[ kou-kach-er ]

/ ˈkaʊˌkætʃ ər /

noun

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

Nearby words

Origin of cowcatcher

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

Also called pilot.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for cowcatcher

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
He was out on the running board and onto the cowcatcher so quickly that he seemed fairly to fly.
Ralph on the Engine|Allen Chapman
The lower part of the vehicle was crunched under the cowcatcher and the child was almost borne away with it.
Ralph on the Engine|Allen Chapman
Sure enough, on the cowcatcher sat a man, huddled up comfortably.
Ralph on the Engine|Allen Chapman

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

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