Definition

Noun: A vaquero is a term, especially used in southwestern and central Texas, for a cowboy—a person, typically on horseback, who herds and tends cattle on a ranch.

Usage

The word vaquero is used specifically to refer to a cowboy within certain regional contexts of the United States, highlighting the Spanish and Mexican cultural origins of cattle herding in those areas. - The old vaquero demonstrated expert roping skills at the rodeo. - This style of saddle was developed by the vaqueros of Texas.

Advanced Usage

• Cultural Reference: The term is often used in historical or cultural discussions to distinguish the original Hispanic horsemen and their traditions from the later, more generalized American "cowboy."
  • The exhibit detailed the influence of the vaquero on modern American cowboy culture.

Variants and Related Words

• Buckaroo (noun): A regional term, used especially in California, for a cowboy. It is a phonetic adaptation of the Spanish word "vaquero."
  • The buckaroos of the Sierra Nevada have their own unique traditions.

Synonyms

• Cowboy (noun): The general term for a person who works with cattle on a ranch.
• Cowhand (noun): Another word for a cowboy or ranch worker.
• Ranch hand (noun): A worker on a ranch.

Related Phrases

• Vaquero tradition: Refers to the specific skills, gear, and cultural practices associated with Hispanic cowboys.
  • He is studying the vaquero tradition of saddle-making.

Noun

1. local names for a cowboy (`vaquero' is used especially in southwestern and central Texas and `buckaroo' is used especially in California)