English · Word Candidate

cowboy

/ˈkaʊˌbɔɪ/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: cowboying · cowboyed

Sense 1

Meaning · English

A man who tends free-range cattle, especially in the American West.

Noun

Examples

There was some laughter, and Roddle was left free to expand his ideas on the periodic visits of cowboys to the town. “Mason Rickets, he had ten big punkins a-sittin' in front of his store, an' them fellers from the Upside-down-F ranch shot 'em up […].”

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

A man who identifies with cowboy culture, including wearing a cowboy hat and being a fan of country and western music.

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

To work as a cowboy, herding cattle.

Verb

Examples

Besides cowboying he worked at a small sawmill that cut logs into "four slabs and a tie" and sold ties to the railroad.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “cowboy” mean?

A man who tends free-range cattle, especially in the American West.

Is “cowboy” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.