cowboy

1 of 2

noun

cow·​boy ˈkau̇-ˌbȯi How to pronounce cowboy (audio)
1
: one who tends cattle or horses
especially : a usually mounted cattle-ranch hand
2
: a rodeo performer
3
: one having qualities (such as recklessness, aggressiveness, or independence) popularly associated with cowboys: such as
a
: a reckless driver
b
: a business or businessperson operating in an uncontrolled or unregulated manner

cowboy

2 of 2

verb

cowboyed; cowboying; cowboys

intransitive verb

: to work as a cowboy
cowboyed in Texas and Oklahoma

Did you know?

In the American West, a horseman skilled at handling cattle is called a cowboy. From ca.1820, cowboys were employed in small numbers on Texas ranches. After the Civil War, their numbers rapidly multiplied as cattle-raising evolved into a lucrative industry throughout the western territories. Cowboys rounded up and branded the cattle, kept watch over the herd, and drove those ready for market to railroad towns. As the agricultural frontier moved west, the open range was transformed into farms, and by 1890 cowboys had been forced to settle on ranches. The romance of their image lives on in American folklore and through movies and television.

Examples of cowboy in a Sentence

Noun a movie about cowboys in the old West He worked for several years as a cowboy on a ranch in Texas. We've got a bunch of risk-taking cowboys running this project. Verb He cowboyed in Texas and Oklahoma.
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Noun
Dillahunt will play modern cowboy William Macon, a self-righteous, conspiracy-minded man who masks his ruthless ambition behind a charming and calculated facade. Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 1 Nov. 2024 Kate’s emerging cowboy tendencies, Trowbridge’s ruthlessness and immaturity, Eidra’s laser focus on intelligence gathering and analysis, Dennison’s rectitude, Roylin’s geopolitics-whisperer shtick — all are heightened and more immediately consequential than before. Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2024
Verb
While Tubac may be the oldest city, World Atlas, a geography website, compiled a list of other old Arizona cities and towns ranging from former mining communities to cowboy territories. Brenna Gauchat, The Arizona Republic, 14 Aug. 2024 Taylor Sheridan to cowboy up in Fort Worth Sheridan, 54, is a North Texas native who is the creative force behind some of the biggest television series of the last few years. Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for cowboy 

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1623, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1925, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cowboy was in 1623

Dictionary Entries Near cowboy

Cite this Entry

“Cowboy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cowboy. Accessed 13 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

cowboy

noun
cow·​boy
-ˌbȯi
: one who tends cattle or horses
especially : a mounted cattle-ranch worker

More from Merriam-Webster on cowboy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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