cowhand

English

Alternative forms

• cow hand

Etymology

From cow +‎ hand, or perhaps blend of cowboy +‎ farmhand.

Noun

cowhand (plural cowhands)

1. One who tends free-range cattle, especially in the American West.

   Synonyms: cowperson, cowpoke, cattleman

   Hyponyms: cowboy, cowgirl

   • 1886 April, Theodore Roosevelt, “Ranch Life and Game Shooting in the West”, in Outing, volume 8, number 1, page 3:

     Though a first rate cow hand he very shortly proved himself to be wholly incapable of acting as head.

   • 1936, “I'm an Old Cowhand (from the Rio Grande)”, Mercer, Johnny (music)‎^[1]:

     I'm an old cowhand from the Rio Grande / but my legs ain't bowed and my cheeks ain't tan […]

2. Cowman or herdsman, especially to a dairy cattle herd.