Cowboy Slang


arroyo
.......	a canyon


boot scoot
....... a slang term for a daince

brandin' iron
....... a red hot iron used to put a rancher's mark
	on a calf

buckaroo
....... a term for a cowboy (limited use of this
	term in Texas)

bush up
....... when cattle hide from the riders


caballo (ca-va-yo)
....... Spanish term for horse, with common usage
	by Texas cowboys
cayuse
....... term for a horse

chuck box
....... a box with a hinged cover where food is stored
	on the chuck wagon. Usually at the back of the
	wagon and when the cover lets down it can be
	used as a work table.

chuck wagon
....... a wagon used on cattle drives or roundups to
	carry food, camp gear and bedrolls

cinch
....... strap that goes under a horse to allow securing
	of the saddle

cinch rings
....... metal rings at the ends of the cinch, which the
	latigo goes through

cookie
....... the cowhand that has to rassle with pots and pans
	instead of steers.  One usually gets to be a cookie
	because of a poor poker hand, sassin' the boss to
	his face, or shootin' the previous cookie.  One
	cannot resign his commission as a cookie; the title
	can transfer only to another luckless soul who commits
	one of the above transgressions.  Sometimes called
	"cosie" (derivative of "cocinero", Spanish  for cook)
	Exerts supreme command over the chuckwagon.

cookie duster
....... what a cowboy grows dreckly under his nose.
	Sometimes called a moustache.

cowboy gatherin'
....... a new phenomenon where cowboys go to quote poems
	and sing songs fer city folks what buy tickets to
	hear 'em.

cowpoke
....... word used for a cowboy.  Thought to have originated
	from the early railroad days when long poles would
	be used to prod cattle through the loading chutes
	and onto cattle cards

cowhorse
....... a horse trained to work cattle

cow-puncher
....... a term for a working cowboy (similar to cow-poke)


dally
....... to loop a rope loosely around the saddle horn
	and not tie fast


dogie
....... a calf with no mamma and no apparent cohorts
	sometimes found wandering aimlessly around the
	herd bellerin' loudly and plaintively to no avail
	(sorta like a free verse writer)

drag
....... (1) the position behind the herd  (2) any dirty,
	thankless job, usually reserved for the newest
	or least combative member(s) of the crew


ear marked
....... notch(s) cut in a calf's ear for identification


flank
....... the position alongside the herd usually reserved
	for the boss (or the boss's worthless kid) so that
	he can keep an eye on the whole herd and crew without
	having to turn completely around in the saddle while
	still avoiding the dust of the herd.

frijoles (free-hole-ees)
....... Spanish term for beans (usually pinto or red beans).
	Common usage amongst Texicans.


hackamore
....... a halter with reins but no bit

head stuck in the dirt
....... gettin' bucked off and takin' a bad fall

header
....... at roundup or rodeo, the cowboy who ropes
	an animal's head

heeler
....... at roundup or rodeo, the cowboy who ropes
	the hind laigs

hondo (honda)
....... the eye tied into the end of the rope, which
	the other end goes through to make a loop.

hoolihan
....... backhan loop used to catch horses


kack
.......	a word used for saddle


latigo
....... leather strap that is used to attach
	the cinch to the saddle


magee
....... term for a rope, usually homemade

makin' the hair fly
....... really spurrin' a buckin' horse

maverick
....... an unbranded steer running wild

mountain oysters
....... meat delacacies collected during sharp knive
	steer making operations at roundup time.
	"Oysters" are usually deep fried in hot grease
	for the evening meal (supper).


nester
.......	a farmer who homesteads open range ranchlands

night guard
....... at a roundup or cattle drive, this is the cowboy
	who rides herd on the cattle at night


outlaw
.......	a western bandit or a bad, contrary horse


payin' the fiddler
.......	what happens as a result of a cowboy's actions

piggin' string
.......	a short piece of rope used to hogtie a calf's legs

point
....... the position at the head of the herd.  This cowhand
	must understand bovine group dynamics, efficient
	velocities, and effective vectors.  Only savvy cowhands
	need apply.  Disadvantage: usually becomes the first
	target during a stampede.

polishin' beltbuckles
....... a slang term for daincin' (See Intro to Texspeak.)


quin sabe (keen sobby)
........ a Texas brand. From the Spanish term, who knows.


roach stompers
....... pointy-toed cowboy boots. -M.S.

rode hard 'n' put up wet
....... describes someone to whom life has not
	been kind. -M.S.


sabe (sobby)
.......	Spanish term for understand

savvy
.......	cowboy slang for understand

scout
....... a position completely away from but ahead of
	the herd.  Usually reserved for a hand who is
	not much good at working cattle, but who is
	skilled at finding water and grass or finding
	places where water can be crossed.  Must be
	skilled at palaver and/or marksmanship in order
	to negotiate rights of passage with hostile
	land holders and Indians.

singe'n hair
.......	branding calves

snoose
.......	term for snuff

soogan
....... a quilt in a cowboy's bedroll


tack
.......	a cowboys working gear

tally book
.......	journal or notebook used to keep track
	of cattle numbers

Texican
....... term for Texas settlers when Texas still
	belonged to Mexico

'til the fat lady sings
.......	indicates when the dang thing will be over

'til the last dog's hung
.......	stick with it until everything's done

twine
.......	slang term for rope


vaca
.......	Spanish word for cow

vamoose
.......	leaving the area (usually in a hurry)

vaquero
.......	Spanish word for cowboy


waddy
.......	a term for a working cowboy

wild rag
.......	term for a cowboy's bandana (not used much
	in Texas)

wrangler
.......	originally the term for a horse herder on a
	drive.  Now refers to a working cowboy in general.

wrastlin' pots and pans
.......	refers to being the camp cook