buckaroo
A cowboy; specifically, a working cowboy who generally does not participate in rodeosA cowboy; specifically, a working cowboy who generally does not participate in rodeos.
Meaning
5 senses(US, also, attributive)A cowboy; specifically, a working cowboy who generally does not participate in rodeos.
(US, broadly)One who adopts a distinctive style of cowboy attire and heritage.
Many cowboy poets have a buckaroo look and feel about them.
(US, broadly)A style of cowboy boot with a high heel tapered at the back.
(US, Western, figuratively)A headstrong, reckless person; a hothead.
Don’t run in looking for a fight like some kind of buckaroo.
(US, slang)Synonym of buck (“a dollar”).
That’ll be twenty buckaroos, buddy.
- local names for a cowboy (‘vaquero’ is used especially in southwestern and central Texas and ‘buckaroo’ is used especially in California)
Origin
Modified from Spanish vaquero (“cowboy”), with the spelling influenced by buck (“(noun) maModified from Spanish vaquero (“cowboy”), with the spelling influenced by buck (“(noun) male antelope, deer, etc.; adventurous or high-spirited young man; (verb) of a horse, etc.: to leap upward arching its back, coming down with head low and forelegs stiff, forcefully kicking its hind legs upward”). Doublet of vaquero.
Probably a fanciful elaboration of buck, influenced by buckaroo (etymology 1).
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