Where does “cow-boy” come from?
cow-boy (French) comes from English cowboy, from English boy, from Middle English boye, from Old English bōia, from Proto-Germanic bōjô, from Proto-Germanic bō-, from Proto-Indo-European bʰā- — to say.
cow-boy (French): cowboy
Definitions
- cowboy
Ancestry of “cow-boy”, step by step
cow-boy traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English cowboy
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | cowboy | A man who tends free-range cattle, especially in... |
| 2 | English | boy | A young male; A male child: a son of any age; A... |
| 3 | Middle English | boye | servant, commoner, knave, boy |
| 4 | Old English | bōia | boy |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | bōjô | younger brother, young male relation |
| 6 | Proto-Germanic | bō- | A stem meaning "father, brother, close male... |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | bʰā- | to say |
via American English cowboy
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American English | cowboy | A man who tends free-range cattle, especially in... |