buckaroo

Buckaroo is another word for a cowboy.

In its most traditional sense, the word cowboy refers to a man who herds and tends cattle on a ranch, especially in the western United States. Cowboys do most of their work on horseback, and buckaroo especially refers to a cowboy considered a broncobuster—meaning one who “breaks in” (tames) broncos and other wild horses so that they can be ridden.

Buckaroo is also an older slang term used as a way to refer to a man, much like how the words guy and dude are used, as in Hey, buckaroo, what’s new with you? 

Example: When I went through a Wild West phase as a kid, I dreamed of living the life of a buckaroo on the range.

The word buckaroo sounds like it might come from some variation of the term bucking bronco, but it actually comes from a corruption of the Spanish word vaquero, which essentially means “cowboy” (the Spanish word for “cow” is vaca). Cowboys in Mexico and other Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America were called vaqueros, and the term caught on in the Southwestern U.S. around the 1820s. The word didn’t go straight from vaquero to buckaroo—earlier versions of the word were bakhara, baccaro, and bucharo. The slangy ending –eroo, as seen in words like switcheroo and smackeroo, may have originated with buckaroo.

Buckaroo isn’t likely to be used literally to refer to a ranch hand anymore. Because of its link to the stereotypical image of a rough-riding cowboy, buckaroo has been used to refer to a reckless person—in much the same way that cowboy can, such as when referring to a reckless driver. It’s perhaps most commonly used today as a silly term of address, as in Howdy, buckaroos, long time no see—though this isn’t all that common either.

You might also see the word buckaroo used as a slang term for a dollar, based on the slang term buck(s), as in Sure, I can spare a few buckaroos for my favorite nephew.

What are some synonyms for buckaroo?

• broncobuster
• cowboy
• cowgirl
• cowhand
• ranch hand
• cowherd
• vaquero

What are some words that share a root or word element with buckaroo? 

• vaquero

What are some words that often get used in discussing buckaroo?

• horse
• bronco
• mustang
• ranch
• Wild West
• herd
• cattle

Buckaroo isn’t used nearly as commonly as cowboy, but it still often calls to mind images of the Old West.

Buckaroo Betty (Mrs. Grindstaff) in action, reading to students at the Wild West Book Fair. Yee haw! pic.twitter.com/bGVo2F0e9v

— West School Dist 47 (@D47West) September 1, 2017

I can't not be my happy-go-lucky, tryna keep positive, morning self.

Cheer up, buckaroos! We ARE going to get through this!

— PixieDustNo.5 (@DustNo5) April 30, 2020

petition to change united states currency to "buckaroos"

— Savannah Seymour (@savannahseymour) May 17, 2020

True or False? 

The word buckaroo is based on the word bronco.