DCHP-3

cow-puncher†

DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

Entry from the DCHP-1 (pre-1967)

This entry may contain outdated or offensive information, terms, and examples.

n. — West

a man who works as a rider on a cattle or horse ranch.

See: cowboy ((n.))(def. 1)

Quotations

1889
There are four different occupations in the country the men engage in, which are called bull-whackers and mule-skinners, applied to freighters who drive oxen or mules, broncho­-busters and cow-punchers.
1955
The men who looked after the cattle were variously referred to as cow-hands, hired men and sometimes as cow-punchers, but only once in a very long while were they referred to as cowboys.