cowboy

/ˈkaʊˌbɔɪ/
verb
  1. To work as a cowboy; to herd cattle.
    • She learned to cowboy from her father, who was a rancher.
    • They cowboyed together for years before buying their own land.
    • He cowboyed on a ranch in Montana during his twenties.
  2. To act in a reckless or unprofessional manner.
    • He cowboyed through the job, leaving a mess for others to fix.
    • The boss warned them not to cowboy with the expensive equipment.
    • Stop cowboying around and follow the instructions.
noun
  1. A person, especially in the western United States, who herds and tends cattle, typically on horseback.
    • The cowboy rode across the open range to round up the stray calves.
    • My grandfather worked as a cowboy in Texas for thirty years.
    • Cowboys often wear wide-brimmed hats and boots to protect themselves while working.
  2. A person who behaves in a reckless, independent, or unprofessional manner, especially in business or work.
    • The project failed because a cowboy ignored all the safety rules.
    • That contractor is a cowboy who cuts corners and does shoddy work.
    • We need a careful planner, not a cowboy who just rushes into things.
  3. A character in movies, books, or shows set in the American West, often depicted as a heroic or adventurous figure.
    • Children love dressing up as cowboys for Halloween.
    • He grew up watching cowboy films and dreaming of the Wild West.
    • The movie features a lone cowboy who saves the town from outlaws.
What does "cowboy" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean