cowpoke

Meaning

Noun

• A cowhand (one who tends free-range cattle)
• A 19th-century device used around the necks of cows and other livestock to prevent them from challenging fencing. The action of the device was to poke the cow when the device came into contact with the fence.

Related

Similar words

• cowhand, cowperson, cow-puncher

Narrower meaning words

• cowboy, cowgirl

Origin

• cow + poke