What is the origin of the word cowboy?

[Gary]

It certainly didn't originate from Vaquero. We know the term was used when Major Andre was captured during the American Revolution by the Skinners (American patriots who stole cattle from the Tories; as opposed to the Tories who as "Cowboys" stole cattle from the patriots). ::

 

[Huntinfool]

According to everything I could find it did come from the word Vaquero in a round about way. Check this site out!

http://www.unm.edu/~gabbriel/chap9.html

Also found this.

David Dary
notes that the word cowboy was previously used in Ireland and although there ...
The culture of the western United States, which many consider the epitome of American-ness, is in origin a synthesis of Anglo and Hispanic cultures which was created in Texas in the days of the Texas Republic and spread with the trail herds to what is now the western United States (and Canada). Major elements of the clothing, food, language and most importantly the cultural values and attitudes derive from Mexican as well as Southern American sources. There were many sources for the population of the western North America but these disparate peoples assimilated the Anglo-Hispanic culture of Texas. Although this culture is perceived as American by the rest of the United States it is a cousin culture rather than a sibling culture and it is just as much a cousin culture for Mexicans as it is for Americans of the eastern and midwestern Unitied States. The ties of the Texan culture to the culture of the southern United States, particularly that of the Scot-Irish of the southern Appalachians, are closer than those to the rest of the United States.

YMH&OS,
Chuck

 

[musketman]

First you take a cow, then you will need to find a boy...

Here is a site for you...

Origins Of The First American Cowboys

 

[vradin]

Etymology being one of those curiosities that I'm addicted to, I found some interesting history- 'cowboy' is not an american invention, but was used in England as far back as the 1620's, altho "cowhand" is an American word from the 1850's. The Spanish "Vaquero" (literally cow man) transformed into the English "buccaroo". The English term cowboy seems to refer more to one who herds cows, where "boy" has a history of meaning 'servant'.

The entire history of the word and a bunch of related words and phrases can be found at: web page

And thanks to this thread, I've increased my useless information quotient by a good 10%, thereby driving completely out of my brain the last of that stuff about dividing fractions I learned back in grade school.

Vic
the terminally curious

 

[kentucky bucky]

Could it be because "Bull man" just doesn't sound right? :blah:

 

[Gary]

You're right Kentucky Bucky. Bull man infers that there were no cows, just bulls. Our forefathers would hate to steer us in the wrong direction.

Can anywon beet a pun as bad as that? :blah:

 

[vradin]

You're right Kentucky Bucky. Bull man infers that there were no cows, just bulls. Our forefathers would hate to steer us in the wrong direction.

Can anywon beet a pun as bad as that? :blah:

No, sorry. I tried to think of something but it was udderly impossible. :redthumb: :crackup: :crackup: :crackup: :thumbsup:

 

[Gary]

:crackup:

 

[PaulN/KS]

Gary,David Dary has written a really good book about the history of the cattle business and cowboys.I will get the complete title tomorrow if you are interested.