jackeroo

American  

[jak-uh-roo] / ˌdʒæk əˈru /

Or jackaroo

noun

• jackeroos
  plural

1. an inexperienced person working as an apprentice on a sheep ranch.

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verb (used without object)

jackerooed, jackerooing

1. to work as an apprentice on a sheep ranch.

jackeroo British  

/ ˌdʒækəˈruː /

noun

1. informal a young male management trainee on a sheep or cattle station

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• jackeroos
  plural

Etymology

Origin of jackeroo

1875–80; jack ¹ + (kang)aroo; cf. -eroo

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

jackeroo jackeroos

In 1964, he signed up as a ranch hand, known as a jackeroo, after embellishing his abilities on horseback, and was sent to the Kimberley, a vast region in northwestern Australia.

From Washington Post ● Apr. 12, 2023

The trek doesn’t go quite as planned, and Lola takes a job as a jackeroo — the term is explained — at the winery’s nearby sheep farm.

From New York Times ● May 18, 2022

One horse began kicking up, so, to give him no time for further pranks, I drove at a good round gallop, which quickly left the lovable jackeroo a speck in the distance.

From My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin

Moya and the jackeroo were ambling leisurely behind, and nothing could have been more natural than Moya's questions.

From The Shadow of a Man by E. W. (Ernest William) Hornung

It was with difficulty he could hold his tongue until the jackeroo had turned his horse adrift and betaken himself to the bachelors' hut euphemistically yclept "the barracks."

From The Shadow of a Man by E. W. (Ernest William) Hornung

Three jackeroos, an overseer, and two other young men came in, were introduced to me, and then we began dinner.

From My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin

Several jackeroos, a neighbouring squatter, and a couple of bicycle tourists turned up at Five-Bob that evening, and we had a jovial night.

From My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin

Going in her direction I met Joe Archer, one of the Five-Bob jackeroos, and a great chum of mine.

From My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin

Some are in a wilderness, with fittings to match; others have telephones between homestead and out-stations, the jackeroos dress for dinner, and the station hands are cowed into touching their hats and saying "Sir."

From Outback Marriage, an : a story of Australian life by A. B. (Andrew Barton) Paterson

There were bank clerks and young fellows out of offices from Gool-Gool, jackeroos and governesses in great force from neighbouring holdings, and we had a merry time.

From My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin