1725, "boy who tends to cows," from cow (n.) + boy. Sense in Western U.S. is from 1849; in figurative use by 1942 for "brash and reckless young man" (as an adjective meaning "reckless," from 1920s). Cowhand is first attested 1852 in American English (see hand (n.)). Cowpoke (said to be 1881, not in popular use until 1940s) was said to be originally restricted to the cowboys who prodded cattle onto railroad cars with long poles.
实用例句
1. He had sought work as a cowboy, rounding up cattle.
他找了一份放牛的差事，负责把牛赶到一起。
来自柯林斯例句
2. Fortunately, such cowboy firms are becoming rarer.
幸运的是，这样的欺诈公司越来越少了。
来自柯林斯例句
3. He wore frayed jeans and cowboy shirts.
他穿着磨破的牛仔裤和牛仔衬衫。
来自柯林斯例句
4. The cowboy splashed his way across the shallow stream with his cow.
