Connecticut western news., 1899-04-06
COWBOY TALK.

Language of the Ranges Translated
 Into English.
 The language of the western ranges contains so many words of special meaning that the following explanation of terms is interesting:
 Buck-A violent jumping of horse, stiff legged, forward or sidewise, up and down. Confined to western horses.
 Broncho (bronko, derivation un- known)-An unbroken western horse.
 Bed Groupd-The place used to hold cattle at night.
 Bunch Grass-A very nutritious kind of grass, about six inches high, grow ing on western prairies. It is the prin- cipal food for stock in the west.
 Cache (cash)-To hide.
 Caballo (caviya)-A horse.
 Cayuse (kiuse)-Indian pony.
 Chapparejo (always contracted and pronounced "shaps )-Leather pants used by cowboys to protect their legs from wet, cold and underbrush. ..-
 Chinook-A warm winter wind from the west. Originally from the Japan current and felt in the west and north west, generally raising the temperature to 40 or 60 degrees above zero.
 Cincha (always pronounced sinch)- A strap or wet belt passing under the horse's belly, holding the saddle in place. There may be one or two cinches. An expression of superiority, 'I have the cinch on him."
 Go-uo1 ;,n ,,.ala f l,ns rails or boards in which to keep cattle or horses.
 Coulie, or Coulee-A small ravine, usually having at the bottom the bed of dry creek lined with underbrush.
 Counter Brand ITO repeat the origi- nal brand immediately under the orig inal.
 Crease-To shoot wild animal, es- pecially horse, in the neck, over the spinal column, stunning him temporari- ly, for the purpose of catching him.
 Cut Out-To separate from a herd a particular animal or animals wanted.
 Crop-To cut off the end of an ami malls ear An earmark signifying ownership.
 Drags-The footsore and weary cattle on drive which fall in the rear.
 Flying Brand-A brand made by far ing or curving the extremities of the letters or characters
 Hackamore-A headgear for horses, used for the same purpose as bridle. It is usually made of horsehair.
 Heel-To throw the lariat in such a way as to catch the hind leg or legs of an animal to throw it down.
 Hondou-The slipknot to a lariat. Usually made of horsehide or noun tain sheep's horn, or it may be knot in the rope itself. .f
 Loco-A weed poisonous to stock.
 Maverick-An unbranded meat ami nal not following its mother. Term or iginated from a man named Maverick, who turned loose lot of unbranded cattle in Texas and then began branding everything with no brand on.
 Milling-Cattle in the act of running around in a close circle. Paunch-To shoot through the paunch any cattle that are hard to drive. It sickens them temporarily and makes them docile.
 Pilgrim-Referring to cattle means an animal new to country. A tenderfoot.
 Pinto-An animal spotted with large white and bay spots A calico horse.
 Quirt-A short cowboy whip usually with loaded handle and two leather thongs for lashes.
 Riding Circle-To ride on the out skirts of a round up party, driving cat tie into the round up bunch.
 Round Up-The act of driving all animals in district into bunch or punches for the purpose of branding, retaining or shipping.
 Tailing-Throwing down cattle by the tail, after having lassoed and heel ed. Holding down cattle when thrown by pulling on the tail passed between the animals hind legs.
 Through Cattle-Cattle driven from one range to another a long distance away. Usually referring to Texas cattle driven to northern ranges.