1. A male hired hand who tends cattle and performs other duties on horseback
   "The cowboy spent long days herding cattle across the ranch";
   - cowman, cattleman
    
2. A male performer who gives exhibitions of riding and roping and bulldogging
   "The cowboy thrilled the rodeo crowd with his skilful lassoing"
    
3. Someone who is reckless or irresponsible (especially in driving vehicles)
   "That cowboy nearly ran me off the road with his reckless driving"
    
4. [Brit, informal] A dishonest or incompetent tradesman
   "We hired a cowboy plumber and now the bathroom's a mess"

Derived forms: cowboys

Type of: adult male, adventurer, bozo [N. Amer, informal], cat [N. Amer, informal], chappie [Brit, informal], cowhand, cowherd, cowpoke [N. Amer, informal], cowpuncher [N. Amer], geezer [Brit, informal], guy [informal], hombre [N. Amer, informal], man, puncher [N. Amer], rodeo rider, sod [informal], venturer

Encyclopedia: Cowboy