Cowman (profession)
Encyclopedia
A cowman is a person who works specifically with cattle
.
In England, where the word cowman originates, the social status of a cowman originally was a minor landowner, a yeoman
, rather than a cowherd or herdsman
. In medieval Gaelic Ireland
a cowman was known as a bóaire
and was landed. Today, however, in Great Britain the cowman usually is an employee, synonymous with cowherd. A highly skilled, superior cowman would be equivalent to an American farm or ranch manager, responsible for daily management of the herd. An ordinary cowman would be equivalent to a cowboy
in the United States, or a stockman in Australia.
A cowman with a dairy farm may also be known in Great Britain as a milkman. In both Great Britain and the United States milkman
commonly means someone who delivers milk to houses.
In the United States and Canada, the term "cowman" is used, but is less common than other terms such as "rancher," "cattleman," or "cowboy." It is generally defined as a man who owns cattle, or a rancher. The more common term for a person who owns and works with dairy cattle usually is dairy farmer, while a person with beef cattle is a cattle rancher. Being farmer
s and ranchers, American cattlemen are generally landowners, though on occasion the terms may include foremen or managers of particularly large operations. The employees of a ranch who work with the livestock may be called cowboy
s, wranglers
, sheepherders, or simply "ranch hands." However, the term"cowman" is occasionally used as a synonym for cowboy.
, the word cowman is a core term, not part of a dialect
. Cowman is not an entry in Dictionary of American Regional English
.
This word is the origin of the occupational surname Cowman
.
. An example is the song "The Farmer and the Cowman
" in the musical Oklahoma!
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
.
Usage
Usage of the word "cowman" has significant geographic variation, though is sometimes used interchangeably with terms such as "stockman", "cattleman", "rancher" and "grazier."In England, where the word cowman originates, the social status of a cowman originally was a minor landowner, a yeoman
Yeoman
Yeoman refers chiefly to a free man owning his own farm, especially from the Elizabethan era to the 17th century. Work requiring a great deal of effort or labor, such as would be done by a yeoman farmer, came to be described as "yeoman's work"...
, rather than a cowherd or herdsman
Herdsman
Herdsman can refer to:* a Herder, a worker who lives a possibly semi-nomadic life, caring for various domestic animals* the Perth suburb Herdsman, Western Australia** Herdsman Lake, a groundwater lake located in Herdsman...
. In medieval Gaelic Ireland
Gaelic Ireland
Gaelic Ireland is the name given to the period when a Gaelic political order existed in Ireland. The order continued to exist after the arrival of the Anglo-Normans until about 1607 AD...
a cowman was known as a bóaire
Boaire
Bóaire was a title given to a member of medieval and earlier Gaelic societies prior to the introductions of English law according to Early Irish law. The terms means a "Cow lord". Despite this a Bóaire was a "free-holder", and ranked below the noble grades but above the unfree...
and was landed. Today, however, in Great Britain the cowman usually is an employee, synonymous with cowherd. A highly skilled, superior cowman would be equivalent to an American farm or ranch manager, responsible for daily management of the herd. An ordinary cowman would be equivalent to a cowboy
Cowboy
A cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century arose from the vaquero traditions of northern Mexico and became a figure of...
in the United States, or a stockman in Australia.
A cowman with a dairy farm may also be known in Great Britain as a milkman. In both Great Britain and the United States milkman
Milkman
A milkman is a person, traditionally male, who delivers milk in milk bottles or cartons. Milk deliveries frequently occur in the morning and it is not uncommon for milkmen to deliver products other than milk such as eggs, cream, cheese, butter, yogurt or soft drinks...
commonly means someone who delivers milk to houses.
In the United States and Canada, the term "cowman" is used, but is less common than other terms such as "rancher," "cattleman," or "cowboy." It is generally defined as a man who owns cattle, or a rancher. The more common term for a person who owns and works with dairy cattle usually is dairy farmer, while a person with beef cattle is a cattle rancher. Being farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
s and ranchers, American cattlemen are generally landowners, though on occasion the terms may include foremen or managers of particularly large operations. The employees of a ranch who work with the livestock may be called cowboy
Cowboy
A cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century arose from the vaquero traditions of northern Mexico and became a figure of...
s, wranglers
Wrangler (profession)
In North America, a wrangler is someone employed to handle animals professionally, especially horses, but also other types of animals. Wranglers also handle the horses and other animals during the making of motion pictures...
, sheepherders, or simply "ranch hands." However, the term"cowman" is occasionally used as a synonym for cowboy.
Etymology
In modern British EnglishBritish English
British English, or English , is the broad term used to distinguish the forms of the English language used in the United Kingdom from forms used elsewhere...
, the word cowman is a core term, not part of a dialect
Dialect
The term dialect is used in two distinct ways, even by linguists. One usage refers to a variety of a language that is a characteristic of a particular group of the language's speakers. The term is applied most often to regional speech patterns, but a dialect may also be defined by other factors,...
. Cowman is not an entry in Dictionary of American Regional English
Dictionary of American Regional English
The Dictionary of American Regional English is a record of American English as spoken in the United States, from its beginning up to the present...
.
This word is the origin of the occupational surname Cowman
Cowman (surname)
Cowman is an occupational surname originating in England. from cowman. A rare surname throughout the world today, Cowman is relatively more common in the midwestern United States. Notable persons with that surname include:*Dick Cowman, rugby player...
.
In popular culture
In the American West there were range wars, conflicts between ranchers and farmers over access to resources, especially water. This is reflected in much of the art, literature, and film in the Western genreWestern (genre)
The Western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, hence the name. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of...
. An example is the song "The Farmer and the Cowman
The Farmer and the Cowman
"The Farmer and the Cowman" is a song composed by Richard Rodgers and with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II for their musical Oklahoma!. It is sung primarily by Andrew Carnes, Aunt Eller, and Ike Skidmore. In various versions of Oklahoma!, the singing parts for Ike, Andrew, and Aunt Eller have been...
" in the musical Oklahoma!
Oklahoma!
Oklahoma! is the first musical written by composer Richard Rodgers and librettist Oscar Hammerstein II. The musical is based on Lynn Riggs' 1931 play, Green Grow the Lilacs. Set in Oklahoma Territory outside the town of Claremore in 1906, it tells the story of cowboy Curly McLain and his romance...