A person who tends cattle, especially on a ranch; a cowboy or ranch worker.
From 'cow' (bovine animal) + 'poke' (possibly from an old meaning of 'poke' as to prod or thrust with a stick). The term emerged in American frontier culture during the 19th century.
Cowpoke is an Americanism that captures the rough, practical nature of frontier ranch life—it's more down-to-earth and humorous than the more romantic 'cowboy,' suggesting someone doing the actual hard work rather than the legend.
Informal occupational term for a ranch hand, defaulting to masculine. Women ranch workers were rare in early formalization but excluded from this colloquial term, which solidified male association.
Use 'ranch hand,' 'cowhand,' or 'wrangler' for gender-neutral reference; 'cowpoke' is colloquial but usable if context is informal and inclusive.
["ranch hand","cowhand","wrangler"]
Women have worked ranches since colonial and frontier periods; informal masculine terms reflected and reinforced occupational exclusion.
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