cowboy, v. N. Amer.
Brit. /ˈkaʊbɔɪ/, U.S. /ˈkaʊˌbɔɪ/
[‹ cow-boy n. Compare slightly earlier cowboying n.]
1. intr., and trans. with it. colloq. To work as a cowboy.
| 1899 Los Angeles Times 4 June (Mag. section) 14/1 Overtaken sometimes by sudden necessity, he has cowboyed it in the Southwest. 1925 W. James Drifting Cowboy vi. 174 How's the chances of getting a job ‘cowboying’ on this ranch? 1954 Newport (Rhode Island) Daily News 19 July 9/1 They cowboyed in Arizona and Utah and Texas until they got tired of driving 40 miles every time they wanted a beer. 1986 P. St. Pierre Boss Namko Drive iii. 31 You're sure young for bossing a beef drive... Was a time years ago, I cowboyed for the greatest cowman of them all. 2001 Arizona Highways Sept. 14/1 Hale..has cowboyed most of his life. |
2. intr. slang. To drive a vehicle in a reckless manner. Also occas. trans. Cf. cow-boy n. 3b.
| 1938 N.Y. Times 17 Oct. 15/3 The youths..were stopped by State Trooper Alton W. Geran, who accused them of ‘cowboying’ on their machines. 1951 Progress (Clearfield, Pa.) 22 Sept. 1/7 Two young men were picked up..for ‘cowboying’ their cars on borough streets. 1989 St. Petersburg (Florida) Times (Nexis) 8 Jan. 1, I heard tires screeching, and thought someone's out there cowboying—they're going to hit my car. |