Word of the Day

: July 6, 2007

waddy

noun, West WAH-dee

What It Means

: cowboy

waddy in Context

"The cowboy of today is a sort of sophisticated waddy, driving trucks, flying airplanes and applying scientific resources to successful ranching." (Willard H. Porter, Chicago Tribune, July 3, 1988)

Did You Know?

It's easier to rope a wild mustang than to round up the origin of "waddy." Some folks claim it comes from "wadding" (the material used in stuffing or padding) because waddies were once extra hands hired to fill in when extra cowhands were needed. But other evidence suggests that "waddy" originally referred to a cattle rustler, a usage that wouldn't support the "wadding" theory. There is also an Australian "waddy" meaning "stick" or "club," but definitive evidence of a connection between the Australian and American words remains elusive. All researchers can say with certainty is that "waddy" has been used to name a cowboy since at least the late 19th century.