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 contractors

      cowboy shop steward

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 Byrds, the Bakersfield sound and California country and country-rock traditions are what lured Yoakam to Los Angeles in the late 1970s as the so-called urban cowboy movement took hold in Nashville.

From Los Angeles Times

Even seasoned artists like Beyoncé and Taylor Swift made it a year worth celebrating in music with their spring album releases "Cowboy Carter" and "The Tortured Poets Department."

From Salon

For country album, Malone’s “F-1 Trillion” is nominated along with “Cowboy Carter,” Kacey Musgraves’ “Deeper Well,” Chris Stapleton’s “Higher” and Lainey Wilson’s “Whirlwind.”

From Los Angeles Times

Yet her nomination for album of the year with “Cowboy Carter” marks her fifth time in a category she’s never won.

From Los Angeles Times

The couple had been tied on 88 nominations each - but Beyoncé has now pulled ahead thanks to recognition for her latest album, Cowboy Carter.

From BBC

Related Words

• bronco