The era of the cowboy in Alberta began with the first cattledrives in 1880 and ended with the harsh winter blizzards in 1906/07. The first Calgary Stampede in 1912 was actually created to honour the memory of what was, at that time, already acknowledged as past history.

The word, "Cowboy" has been traced back almost two thousand years to Ireland, where horsemen were called "cow-boys."

Mexican Cowboys were called "vaqueros"; Americans used the term "buckaroo," which is how "vaquero" sounded to their ears.

Chaps: abbreviation of "chaperejos," meaning leather leggings.

Ranch: from "rancho" meaning camp or small farm.

Rodeo: from "rodear," meaning to surround as in a demonstration of skills used in a cattle roundup.

Stampede: from "estampida" meaning "pounding" or "loud sound."

Bronc: from "bronco" meaning tough or wild.

The Cow: is the female of the breed, although sometimes on a ranch, all cattle are called cows, regardless of sex.

Bull: is the male of the breed, with the apparatus. Seldom allowed to mingle with the herd (unless for specific reason).

Calf: is a young cow or young bull.

Dogie: is a motherless calf or any young or stray calf. They usually "git along" quite well.

Heifer: is a young cow that has not yet had a calf.

Steer: is a young male raised for beef that has undergone minor surgery to prevent it from bothering the cows.

Tenderfoot: originally used to describe eastern cattle that were shipped west for breeding purposes.

Greenhorn: originally meant a young animal with immature horns. (Both terms, Tenderfoot and Greenhorn, were quickly used to describe inexperienced newcomers to the West.)

Colt .45: also known as a Peacemaker, was the favorite gun of both lawmen and outlaws. They liked its short 43/4 inch barrel because it made the gun easier to handle in a quick draw.

Cowboy Hat: used to signal to other cowboys, beat trail dust off your clothes and to hold food for your horse. A true cowboy wears his hat when he's sleeping.

Chuckwagon Cooks often acted as barbers, bankers, dentists, doctors and teamster to the cowboys in their crew. They were paid double the wage of a cowhand - around $30 to $50 a month. Other names for cooks were: dough-puncher, pot-rassler, beanmaster, biscuit-shooter, dough-belly, belly-cheater or just plain "cookie."

Cowboy Etiquette: Never ride into the campground from an upwind location, or tie your horse to the chuckwagon, as dust or horsehairs can get carried into the food.
The space between the fire and the chuckbox belong to the cook. Venture here at your peril. Eat when you're told to and stack your own dishes.

Sheep: Ranchers claimed that sheep cropped the grass too close to the ground, leaving little for the cattle to eat. To a cowboy, "cooking mutton" as likely as not meant burning down the nearest sheep ranch. Even today, many ranchers won't eat lamb.

No pipe or cigar smokin', no spittin', no swearin'
No lewd or lascivious behaviour except with Big-Nose Kate,
Hambone Jane and the other prairie nymphs!

...and no stealin' the menus!
You can buy a copy for only $1 at the General Store -
just ask your server.