	Site Map \| FAQ in Daily Almanac for Nov 27, 2009
Skip Navigation Home American Indian Heritage Month Atlas Encyclopedia Dictionary Thesaurus Features Quizzes Timelines Countries Slideshows

Fact Monster Kid's reference,
games, quizzes

Editor's Favorites

Dictionary

cow•boy

Pronunciation: (kou'boi"), [key]
—n.
1. a man who herds and tends cattle on a ranch, esp. 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, esp. in rodeos.
3. Chiefly Northeastern U.S.a reckless or speedy automobile driver.
4. Informal.a reckless or irresponsible person, esp. 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.

—v.i.
to work as a cowboy.

cowbird

cowboy boot

See also:

cowboy (Thesaurus)

Dictionary

cow•boy

Related Content