Why do they call them "cowboys" instead of "cowmen"?

Question

Isn't it demeaning?

Answer 1

sometimes they were called 'cowmen', the terms were often interchangable.
the thing is, America still had something of a caste system during the 'old west', the rich and the poor, there still wasn't much of a middle class. either you owned property or you worked it for someone else. 'boy' was a common term applied to any man lower in rank than yourself. ya, it probably was/is a bit demening, but it was a different time and a different culture when it came into use.

Answer 2

Because they're good old boys and because:

Originally the word designated a herdsboy who was employed as a cowherd, often on foot (riding requiring skills and investment in horse and equipment rarely available to or entrusted to a boy). Herdswork was often done - more often with sheep or goats - by minors in Antiquity, and still is in various third world cultures; the teenagers of a South African tribe even maintain a specific traditional form of Nguni stick fighting, to defend themselves and their herds.

But in the western culture, herding cattle was rarely left to boys, except as trainees at least approaching manhood, especially as schooling became generalized, and the term became disassociated from the boyish age, at first retaining the notion of low status often implied by 'boy' in professional designations, later being extended to the whole ranch culture.

Answer 3

Because cowboys sounds so much better. Cowmen doesn't sound right, doesn't fit the guy who rides a 2000 lb. bull, gets thrown off but walks away like nothing happened. To me, cowmen sounds sissy.

Answer 4

Cowmen

Answer 5

Cause cowboys sounds better.

Answer 6

Hmmm... maybe because "cowmen" sounds more like some kind of kinky animal husbandry??

Answer 7

Well, there is such a word as "stockman" if cowboy bothers you.

Answer 8

Theres a good movie about that question-with john wayne in it. anywho who wants to save a horse ride a cowman? cowman-sounds like half cow half man.

Answer 9

back then they didn't have problems with it
now they don't have problems with it
why do you?

Answer 10

only in your politically correct language.