Definition

1. Noun:
   • A woman who works on a ranch, especially one who rides horses and herds cattle: "cowgirl" specifically refers to a female counterpart to a cowboy, traditionally involved in cattle ranching in North America.
   • A woman skilled in riding horses and performing rodeo events: The term also applies to women who participate in rodeos, showcasing skills like barrel racing or bronc riding.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • She grew up on a ranch and became a skilled cowgirl.
  • The rodeo featured several talented cowgirls competing in barrel racing.

Advanced Usage

• Cultural Symbol: The term "cowgirl" often evokes the romanticized image of the independent, pioneering woman of the American West.
  • The film celebrated the spirit of the American cowgirl.

Variants and Related Words

• Cowboy (n): The male equivalent; a man who works on a ranch herding cattle.
• Rancher (n): A person who owns or works on a large farm (ranch), especially for raising cattle or other livestock. (This is a more general, gender-neutral term).

Synonyms

• Female cowboy: The direct descriptive synonym.
• Ranch hand: A worker on a ranch. (This term is gender-neutral but can describe the same role).

Related Phrases

• Cowgirl up (informal phrase): To show courage, toughness, or resilience, especially in a difficult situation. (This is a phrase derived from the noun).
  • When things got tough, she just had to cowgirl up and keep going.

Noun

1. a woman cowboy