Cowboy Lingo by Ramon F Adams
The cowboy -- that enigmatic, larger-than-life icon of our culture --has long been considered a figure of fast hands, steel nerves, and few words. But according to Ramon Adams, cowboys, once among themselves, enjoyed a vivid, often boisterous repartee. You might say that around a campfire they could make more noise than a jackass in a tin barn. Here in one volume is a complete guide to cowboy-speak. Like many of today's foreign language guides, this handy book is organized not alphabetically but situationally, lest you find yourself in Texas at a loss for words. There are sections on the ranch, the cowboy's duties, riding equipment, the roundup, roping, branding, even square dancing. There are words and phrases you'll recognize because they've filtered into everyday language -- blue lightnin', star gazin', the whole shebang -- plus countless others that, sadly, are seldom heard in current speech: lonely as a preacher on pay night, restless as a hen on a hot griddle, crooked as a snake in a cactus patch. As entertaining as it is authoritative, COWBOY LINGO captures the living speech of the Great Plains and serves as a window into the soul of the American West.
The cowboy -- that enigmatic, larger-than-life icon of our culture --has long been considered a figure of fast hands, steel nerves, and few words. But according to Ramon Adams, cowboys, once among themselves, enjoyed a vivid, often boisterous repartee. You might say that around a campfire they could make more noise than a jackass in a tin barn. Here in one volume is a complete guide to cowboy-speak. Like many of today's foreign language guides, this handy book is organized not alphabetically but situationally, lest you find yourself in Texas at a loss for words. There are sections on the ranch, the cowboy's duties, riding equipment, the roundup, roping, branding, even square dancing. There are words and phrases you'll recognize because they've filtered into everyday language -- blue lightnin', star gazin', the whole shebang -- plus countless others that, sadly, are seldom heard in current speech: lonely as a preacher on pay night, restless as a hen on a hot griddle, crooked as a snake in a cactus patch. As entertaining as it is authoritative, COWBOY LINGO captures the living speech of the Great Plains and serves as a window into the soul of the American West.
Ramon F. Adams, Western bibliophile and lexicographer of Dallas, knows the lore and language of the range as perhaps no other man does today. He was the ideal choice to arrange Bob Kennon's story for publication. Mr. Kennon, he says, through in his eighties, had a keen mind and deep interest in the history of Montana, he began sending me the story of his life, more material, in fact, than I could use. That he was made good use of that material, this book attests.
SKU | GOR001704499 |
ISBN 13 | 9780618083497 |
ISBN 10 | 0618083499 |
Title | Cowboy Lingo |
Author | Ramon F Adams |
Condition | very good |
Binding type | Paperback |
Publisher | Houghton Mifflin |
Year published | 2000-11-20 |
Number of pages | 272 |
Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
Note | This is a used book - there is no escaping the fact it has been read by someone else and it will show signs of wear and previous use. Overall we expect it to be in very good condition, but if you are not entirely satisfied please get in touch with us |