rustler

/'rʌslə/

Thân thiện

A cowboy chases a rustler on horseback across the prairie.

Definition

Noun: 1. A person who steals livestock, especially cattle or horses: Historically, this term refers to a cattle thief or horse thief, particularly in the context of the American Old West.

Usage

The word "rustler" is a countable noun. It is used to identify a person who commits the specific crime of livestock theft. * It is often used with articles: "a rustler," "the rustler," "rustlers." * It can be modified by adjectives: "a notorious rustler," "cattle rustlers."

Examples

• The ranchers formed a posse to hunt down the rustler who stole their herd.
• In many Western films, the sheriff's main job is to catch rustlers.
• Modern rustlers sometimes use trucks instead of horses to steal cattle.

Advanced Usage

• Cattle rustler: This is a very common collocation that specifies the type of livestock stolen.
  • The state increased penalties for cattle rustlers.
• The verb form is to rustle, meaning to steal livestock.
  • They were accused of rustling horses from the neighboring ranch.

Variants and Related Words

• Rustle (verb): To steal livestock.
• Rustling (noun): The crime of stealing livestock.
  • He was arrested for cattle rustling.

Synonyms

• Cattle thief
• Horse thief
• Livestock thief

Notes on Meaning

The term "rustler" is strongly associated with the history and mythology of the American frontier (the "Wild West"). While the crime still exists today, using the word "rustler" often evokes that historical context. In modern legal or agricultural contexts, terms like "livestock thief" may be more neutral.

Học thuật

Noun

1. someone who steals livestock (especially cattle)

Từ đồng nghĩa

• cattle thief