DCHP-1 Online
cow-puncher † 
n. West a man who works as a rider on a cattle or horse ranch.
See also: cowboy ((n.)) (def. 1)
- 1889 There are four different occupations in the country the men engage in, which are called bull-whackers and mule-skinners, applied to freighters who drive oxen or mules, broncho-busters and cow-punchers.
- 1955 The men who looked after the cattle were variously referred to as cow-hands, hired men and sometimes as cow-punchers, but only once in a very long while were they referred to as cowboys.
- 1889 There are four different occupations in the country the men engage in, which are called bull-whackers and mule-skinners, applied to freighters who drive oxen or mules, broncho-busters and cow-punchers.