Cowboy slang phrases. Website designed by Basha O'Reilly American West/Cowboy – Vocabulary and Slang. Discover some funny cowboy sayings that'll get you thinking! Western Slang, Lingo, and Phrases – A Writer’s Guide to the Old West The American West, a period etched in history with tales of pioneers, cowboys, and gold rushes, holds a unique linguistic heritage. Collected slang words, lingo and phrases of the Old West including definitions and use. Potter (2) “Frontier Slang, Lingo & Phrases,” by Kathy Weiser-Alexander and (3) “Western Words, A Dictionary of the Old West,” by Ramon Adams. Some of them are older than one might imagine. I am looking for the dumbest possible phrases your minds can think of. Thank you in advance . More fun. Explore cowboy slang with our list of unique terms and phrases from the Wild West. While some cowboy dictionaries focus mainly on old-time or Old West definitions, our dictionary is a bit different: We focus mainly on words, terms, and slang frequently in use among the working cowboys and cowgirls of today. Ace-high- High class; upscale. Feb 2, 2019 by Katy Lucas Collected slang words, lingo and phrases of the Old West including definitions and use. There are many unique phrases and lingo that has been associated with cowboys. Arbuckle’s – Slang for coffee, taken from a popular brand of the time. A writer's guide to the Old West! Giddy up and dive into classic cowboy phrases from the Old West that still echo with relevance and charm today. Buscadero: gunfighter. Bangtail – wild horse; mustang. There's plenty of rootin tootin phrases out there, and we've rounded up ten of the coolest slang phrases that we should bring back today. Our dictionary defines words and expressions common in the cowboy lifestyle. See also: Cowboy Proverbs 13 Famous Slang Words For Cowboys Cowboy slang has been around for hundreds of years. So read our Aussie slang guide with video Urban Thesaurus crawls the web and collects millions of different slang terms, many of which come from UD and turn out to be really terrible and insensitive (this is the nature of urban slang, I suppose). Some others are more widely accepted across the United States. From “howdy” to “all hat, no cattle,” we round up the most iconic western lingo that every fan should know. Western historical romance authors may be dismayed to find others are newer than they hoped. Acknowledge the Corn- To confess the truth. Wet Cow - A cow that is currently producing milk. See Also: Horse Riding Terms for Beginners Dec 2, 2025 · Learn the cowboy lingo with this slang guideYeehaw! Are you ready to learn some cowboy lingo? If so, you're in the right place! Below you'll find a glossary of Old West slang words, phrases, and insults. Here are 13 everyday sayings with roots in the Wild West, and the surprising stories behind how they started. Join us for a fun dive into Western culture and language. Its purpose is to give you a reference sheet when you find yourself stuck on a word, that is if Professor McCoy choose the theme of the Western and Violence for the following quarter or for any future Quarter. Explore phrases, historical context, and their lasting impact on modern society. From Texas to the great plains, these funny cowboy slogans and sayings are best associated with these hard working men. Drink, play cards, and come up with slang. Band wagon – peddler's wagon. The Wild West gave us more than outlaws and shootouts; it left a mark on our language too. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Cowboy Lingo: An Authoritative and Entertaining Guide to the Living Speech of th at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products! Collected slang words, lingo and phrases of the Old West including definitions and use. " A romanticized and often misunderstood period of US history, the Old West utilized a vernacular perfect Inspirational and famous cowboy quotes, sayings, and proverbs. Arriving into Australia with little knowledge of Australian slang may get you into a few awkward situations. I'll be. Apr 25, 2024 · Uncover the hidden meanings behind cowboy lingo. The link below is to a compendium of western slang. Adams Dive into the fascinating world of cowboy slang and discover how the unique lexicon of the American West enriches our understanding of cowboy culture and literature. Looking for a quick comeback or insult? Here's a few from the Old West sure to get the job done. Discover the rich language of the American West with our comprehensive cowboy glossary. [8][9] Ease of communication via social media and other Cowboy Vocabulary – Jargon, Lingo, Sayings, Slang Cowboy Vocabulary Jargon, Lingo, Sayings, Slang Compiled by Dick "Colorado" Oakes CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE Discover 150 funny cowboy sayings from the Old West—witty, outrageous, and timeless expressions straight from the frontier. Although old-timey cowboys spent a vast majority of their days rounding up cattle, they were quite the multitaskers, even developing their own lingo as they worked. Adams Wild West Word Search Book: Search for Words and Slang from the Wild Days of the Old West, Rocky Puzzler Frontier Slang, Lingo & Phrases, Kathy Weiser-Alexander Western Words: A Dictionary of the American West, Ramon F. Enjoy reading these insights and feel free to share this page on your social media to inspire others. But according to Ramon Adams, cowboys, once among themselves, enjoyed a vivid, often boisterous repartee. Saddle up for laughs! Collected slang words and phrases of the Old West, extracted from period newspapers, books and memoirs. Legend has it that these terms were Jul 28, 2025 · Learn the real meaning behind classic cowboy slang terms—from “burn the breeze” to “ride for the brand. Rodeo Terms: FloRodeo's Full Dictionary Of Cowboy Slang So please enjoy, our never complete, sometimes slightly inaccurate or exaggerated, but always in good fun dictionary of cowboy slang. The background of cowboy slang words and dictionary of western cowboy lingo by North Pole West, Cowboy Christmas experts. that just because I was a small child. I’m a huge collector of all types of slang and jargon but as a historical writer I’m partial to cowboy slang and jargon. Th Many idioms and phrases we use today originated in the lawlessness of the Old West. Jan 23, 2026 · Giddy up and dive into classic cowboy phrases from the Old West that still echo with relevance and charm today. Sayings that by famous cowboys, cowgirls, and famous western riders. #western #wotd #cowboy #slang #mean Keywords: western slang meaning, cowboy language origins, meaning of mean in slang, cowboy terminology explained, country music slang words, old west language, western vernacular terms, slang used by cowboys, understanding cowboy slang, daily western slang The South African English (Western Cape) Translator is here to skrik you right into the lingo! South African English (Western Cape), also known as Coloured Afrikaans or Kaapse Afrikaans, is a vibrant and unique dialect spoken primarily in the Western Cape province of South Africa, heavily influenced by Afrikaans, English, and Khoisan languages. com In the heart of the American West, where the sun sets over dusty trails and campfires crackle with stories, the cowboy spirit remains alive and well. Bake – to overheat a horse by riding too fast, long, or hard. Welcome to our cowboy dictionary illustrated with photos. From lingo on the cattle trails to modern cowboy slang. Learn the best cowboy slang to talk like a true westerner. Argy – Argue Arikara (also Arikaree) – This term is believed to mean “horns,” after this tribe’s ancient custom of wearing hair ornaments that stuck upright and were made of bone. Hope you enjoy them, and let us know your favorite terms from those past times. This article delves into the rich tapestry of cowboy phrases that capture the essence of rugged Cowboy slang was used during the time of the American Wild West – and may be still used by those who still live the cowboy lifestyle today. “I need a cup of Arbuckle’s. Image license via Picryl. Sources & Further Reading Cowboy Lingo, Ramon F. These colloquialisms have a varied and rich history. From old-school cowboy lingo to modern-day ranch terms, these phrases capture the grit, humor, and traditions of the American West. Some slang terms may be specific to a particular region or era. Hopefully the related words and synonyms for " cowboy+summer+urban+dictionary " are a little tamer than average. But I’ve always wondered, is it real? Where did all those terms come from, anyway? And, um, what do they mean? I went surfing on the web recently and found a great site that breaks down many of the most popular slang, phrases, etc. Slang used or popularized in the 2020s, usually by Generation Z (Gen Z), generally defined as people born between 1997 and 2012 in the Western world, [note 1] or by Generation Alpha (generally defined as people born between 2013 and 2024 [7]), differs from that of earlier generations. Western Slang, Lingo, And Phrases We have collected and put the best Western Slang, Lingo, And Phrases. Not just slang used by cowboys (that would be interesting enough) but slang used by all manner of Americans in the West. BEND AN ELBOW – Have a drink. The cowboy -- that enigmatic, larger-than-life icon of our culture --has long been considered a figure of fast hands, steel nerves, and few words. Here are some of our favorite descriptive terms: PRAIRIE TENOR – A coyote. Heard Around the Bunkhouse #5 – Cowboy Lingo In our feature Heard Around the Bunkhouse we bring you cowboy lingo and slang that they used back in the Wild West. Many different words have been used to refer to the rough-and-tumble lifestyles of cowboys. Badlands – barren areas of South Dakota, as well as other inhospitable western locations. Many definitions are illustrated with photos. A Cowboy is a man with guts and a Horse. Ace in the Hole- A hideout; safe house, or a concealed gun. I've tried to incorperate the cowboy-style southern accent into this translator too (as well as word for word translations). ” These Western phrases are still used today on ranches and in rodeos across Texas and the American West. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. ” Argufy – Argue, to have weight as an argument. BANG UP JOB – First Rate PONY UP – Hurry Up ROOSTERED – Drunk * Courtesy of Chronicle of the Old West newspaper At Cowboy to Cowboy we get intrigued with Old West phrases. These iconic phrases and expressions are deeply ingrained in popular culture. Here are some of the words and phrases used to describe the bad boys of the Old West. Next time you need an interesting phrase to experess yourself, impress your friends with some new phrases This fun post introduces the reader to "cowboy vocabulary" or vocabulary that you might hear American cowboys use in the movies or in person. Here are some of my favorite slang terms and their meanings. Cowboy sayings can be surprisingly insightful, but not without their sense of humor. My book “Bighorn Visions, the Photography of Jessamine Spear For those of you who want a better idea of life in the Wild West, Old West slang terms definitely help get you in that mindset of cowboys, cattle wranglin', and casually overlooked "brothels. This article delves into the rich tapestry of cowboy phrases that capture the essence of rugged Here are some slang words and phrases for cowboys. The Western Dictionary The following Slang Words were taken out form the website WESTERN SLANG & PHRASES. Cowboy words and phrases give us a peek into the life of a cowboy and can just be fun to say while enjoying a family vacation at our guest ranch in Colorado. From the Spanish buscadero, literally a searcher. Phrases such as “chew gravel” and the “best bib and tucker” were once commonplace among Wild Westerners, making “Cowboy” a I especially love the cowboy slang in the movies. I feel disappointed as I live in Cowboy Country, yet I can think of only those 4. Old West Slang July 5, 2014 // 0 A Abisselfa- by itself Abandons-fondlings Abandons- street prostitutes Above board- in open sight Above one’s bend- out of one’s power Above snakes- above ground; still alive Absquatulate- to leave A cartwheel- silver dollar Ace-High – first class Ace in the hole- a hideout According to Hoyle – correct . Above Snakes- Being above ground; alive. Cowboy stereotypes sayings have long captured the imagination of people around the world, evoking images of rugged individuals roaming the vast American frontier. Whether you’re a city slicker curious about cowboy culture or a seasoned ranch hand looking to brush up on your terminology, this guide to ranch slang will have you speaking like a true wrangler in no time. Plus detailed info on horses, saddles and guns. : ) Archived post. *** Best bets: (1) “Cowboy Slang: Colorful Cowboy Sayings,” by Edgar R. Many phrases we use today were born in dusty saloons, cattle trails, and frontier towns. Dive into the language of the American West with our deep dive into cowboy slang. It's filled with all sorts of cowboy sayings and phrases and in general tries to convert everything your write into some sort of cowboy slang. Learn fascinating cowboy slang that captures Western life. Ace-high ~ first class, respected. Barefoot – unshod horse. This is a little cowboy-talk translator that I build with LingoJam. Cowboys really knew how to do some things right. rhral, de7fu, us3gvx, k6ivol, dxnpc, zj4k, 0gkg0o, k5yje, yeev, vrjexm,