JF Ptak Science Books Quick Post
I reckon that at some point or another one or some or all of these words might come in handy, a garnish to a small thought or medium sentence, or even as a companion to Patrick Starfish and his "sentence enhancers". They're a little far from the "history of science" material that I guess I'm supposed to be writing about here, but, well, like all of the other non-science stuff that makes an appearance in these pages, its interest was too irresistible for me to say "no" to.
And so to some colorful Cowboy vocabulary, choice morsels that I plucked from a document found some time ago at the Manuscript Division of the Library of Congress. They're located in what still seems to be an unpublished typescript from the Texas Folklore Project of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and the Federal Writers' Project (FWP). The language was collected by marginally-employed historians and such put on temporary dole by the U.S. government, sent out to the far regions, interviewing old Cowboys for what they knew and remembered. The document is dated February, 1938.
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Bog rider |
Cowboy sent to patrol bogs and extricate cattle |
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Button |
Boy |
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Chuck eater |
Easterner come west to learn ranch work |
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Circle |
Area a roundup rider must inspect in a day |
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Climb your hump |
Fight |
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Deep in the wood |
Firmly in saddle |
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Drag your loop |
I didn’t steal that cow, itjust poked its head in the loop I was dragging” |
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Fork a horse |
Ride a horse |
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Forty Rod |
Liquor |
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Give up the head |
Complain |
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Gizzard gravel |
Courage |
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Grass train |
Ox-team freighters |
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He left the score |
Left in a panic |
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Jiggle |
Ride |
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Jingler |
One who herds horses for an outfit |
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Lacing up a tree |
Putting the saddle on |
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Moonshine |
Night rider |
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Old cedar |
Six shooter |
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Rattling his hooks |
Ride fast |
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Riding through strong |
Riding horses average cowboy doesn’t want to ride |
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Slop and tatter |
Pacing horse |
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Swing a long rope |
Horse or cattle thief |
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Turn a cat |
Take a fall |
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Wheelbarrow man |
One who walks across the plains |
Equipment
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Apple |
Saddlehorn |
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Cactus root |
Saddle |
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Diggers |
Spurs |
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Hayburner |
Horse of little value |
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Hog Leg |
Large caliber revolver |
Cattle
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Canners |
Cattle too skinny for anything but canned meat |
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Father up the herd |
Put the herd down for the night |
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Free grass |
Open range |
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Grub |
Cut off the ear of cattle to destroy original earmark |
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Hatrack |
Skinny cow |
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Hot blood |
Thoroughbred cattle |
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Ironed |
Branded |
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Moolies |
Hornless breed of cattle |
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Stomp |
Stampede |
Cooking and Food
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Belly cheater |
Cook |
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Doughgobs |
Big powder biscuts |
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Lick |
Syrup |
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Sop |
Gravy |
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Spoon vitals |
Good food |
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