The hybrid language of the frontier is revealed in this compilation of terms used by the cattlemen, frontiersmen, scouts, cowboys, and gamblers.

A fascinating dictionary of terms from the Wild West of 1850 to 1900 lists the origins and meanings of many currently used expressions and phrases, noting their frequent adaptations from original Mexican words.

This book, originally published in 1944, has 5,000 words of cowboy language as vibrant now as it was in the old American frontier. The native cowman forged his own language. Like other men of the soil, he created similes & metaphors, salty & unrefined, but sparkling with stimulating vigor. In the early days, many men with college degrees came west, fell in love with the freedom of range life, & remained. Not bound by conventions, they soon drifted into the infectious parlance of the cow country. This volume has been prepared to help preserve this lingo for posterity. The terms have been gathered from every part of the range. Within the cowman's figures of speech lie the rich field of his subtle humor & strength -- unique, original, full-flavored. Illus.

Western Words has 5,000 words of cowboy language as vibrant now as it was in the old American frontier. "Within the cowman's figures of speech lie the rich field of his subtle humor and strength-unique, original, full-flavored. With his usually limited education he squeezes the juice from language, molds it to suit his needs, and is a genius at making a verb out of anything. He 'don't have to fish 'round for no decorated language to make his meanin' clear, ' and has little patience with the man who 'spouts words that run eight to the pound.' Perhaps the strength and originality in his speech are due to the solitude, the nearness of the stars, the bigness of the country, and the far horizons-all of which give him a chance to think clearly and go into the depths of his own mind. Wide spaces 'don't breed chatterboxes.' On his long and lonely rides, he is not forced to listen to the scandal and idle gossip that dwarf a man's mind. Quite frequently he has no one to talk to but a horse..." -from the author's Introduction

Anyone who loves language will revel in the words, stories and lore found in this uncommon resource that honours the colourful history of the West and brings the region to vivid life.

The hybrid language of the frontier is revealed in this compilation of terms used by the cattlemen, frontiersmen, scouts, cowboys, and gamblers

A visual dictionary of the Old West that focuses on the life of cowboys, western settlers, boomtowns, and the gold rush.

Western movies are full of images of swaggering outlaws brought to justice by valiant lawmen shooting them down in daring gunfights before riding off into the sunset. In reality it would not have happened that way. Real lawmen did not simply walk away from a gunfight--they had to face the legal system and justify shooting a civilian in the line of duty. Providing a more realistic view of criminal justice in the Old West, this history focuses on how criminals came into conflict with the law and how the law responded. The process is described in detail, from the common crimes of the day--such as train robbery and cattle theft--to the methods of apprehending criminals to their adjudication and punishment by incarceration, flogging or hanging.

This cultural journey down memory lane showcases how major Western figures, events, and places have been portrayed in folk legends, art, literature, and popular culture. Ever since the days of the 49ers and George Armstrong Custer, the Old West has been America's most potent source of legend. But it is sometimes hard to separate fact from fiction. Did you know, for example, that Annie Oakley was a talented marksman who shot an estimated 40,000 rounds per year while practicing and performing for Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show in the late l800s? Or that many interpreters believe that The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is not just a fairy tale, but also a Populist allegory? These are just two of the folk legends dissected and examined in this veritable cultural geography. The volume covers everything from billionaire Howard Hughes and composer Aaron Copeland to Aztlan (the legendary first city of the Aztecs) and Area 51, the top-secret U.S. Air Force base at Groom Lake, Nevada, that has fascinated UFO and conspiracy buffs.