cowbell

[ kou-bel ]

noun

1. a bell hung around a cow's cow neck to indicate its whereabouts.
2. the bladder campion.

cowbell

/ ˈkaʊˌbɛl /

noun

1. a bell hung around a cow's neck so that the cow can be easily located
2. a metal percussion instrument usually mounted on the bass drum or hand-held and struck with a drumstick
3. another name for bladder campion

Word History and Origins

Origin of cowbell¹

First recorded in 1805–15; cow ¹ + bell ¹

Example Sentences

He’s aiming for the people who just want more cowbell.

From Los Angeles Times

Chris Parnell doesn’t think the cowbell works and he is right, but out comes a legendary music producer to not only disagree but also state that the opposite is true.

From Los Angeles Times

Do you need “more cowbell” or do you have an undying love of the Coneheads?

From Los Angeles Times

Do you need “more cowbell” or do you have an undying love of the Coneheads?

From Los Angeles Times

At the Daily News, where he sometimes walked around the newsroom banging a cowbell, his outsized personality — sometimes bordering on bombast — fit the bill.

From Los Angeles Times