Proper noun

Singular Cowboys

Plural -

Cowboys

1. A professional football team located in Dallas, Texas.
2. Any of various high school and collegiate teams so named.

Noun

Singular Cowboys

Plural uncountable

Cowboys (uncountable)

1. (poker slang) two kings as a starting hand in Texas hold 'em

A cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century arose from the vaquero traditions of northern Mexico and became a figure of special significance and legend. A subtype, called a wrangler, specifically tends the horses used to work cattle. In addition to ranch work, some cowboys work for or participate in rodeos. Cowgirls, first defined as such in the late 19th century, had a less-well documented historical role, but in the modern world have established the ability to work at virtually identical tasks and obtained considerable respect for their achievements. There are also cattle handlers in many other parts of the world, particularly South America and Australia, who perform work similar to the cowboy in their respective nations.

The cowboy has deep historic roots tracing back to Spain and the earliest settlers of the Americas. Over the centuries, differences in terrain, climate and the influence of cattle-handling traditions from multiple cultures created several distinct styles of equipment, clothing and animal handling. As the ever-practical cowboy adapted to the modern world, the cowboy's equipment and techniques also adapted to some degree, though many classic traditions are still preserved today.

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• National Cowboy Symposium & Celebration
  cowboy.org
  Annual event in Lubbock, Texas, focused on ranching, cowboys and the western way of life. Schedules and reports of past events.
• Western Folklife Center
  westernfolklife.org
  Perpetuating the varied traditions of the American West. Includes information on exhibits, events and membership benefits.
• The Western Web
  thewesternweb.com
  Directory including horses, trailers, auction, dogs, cattle, classifieds, associations, and everything relating to the American cowboy lifestyle.