: a bell hung around the neck of a cow to make a sound by which the cow can be located
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the WebEverything about it — the competition, the camaraderie, the costumes — is hard to match, said the 37-year-old, cowbell-wielding Alpharetta native. Hannah Ziegler, ajc, 4 July 2022 Ronstadt's gritty reinvention puts a California country-rock spin on what was once a rockabilly song, from an opening riff that wasn't on the Holly version to Ronstadt's snarling delivery and the use of cowbell. Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 11 July 2022 The economy has a fever, and the only prescriptions are more rate hikes and more cowbell, in that order. David Goldman, CNN, 3 June 2022 Chen called for a nurse to ring a cowbell, signaling the good news to the rest of the floor. Gilad Thaler, CBS News, 12 May 2020 Like few others, Schick can inject an air of mystery and drama by expertly striking a drum, cymbal, gong, cowbell, tambourine, or any other percussion instrument of any size that is at hand. George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 May 2022 The high-octane track explodes with an FM radio chorus, a chunky guitar riff, and enough cowbell to satisfy Christopher Walken. Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 22 Apr. 2022 When the singer took the stage to sing his 1999 hit, Ferrell joined him, cowbell in hand. Rachel Desantis, PEOPLE.com, 8 Dec. 2021 It’s really Keith Richards and Charlie Watts and Jimmy Miller on the cowbell. Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 6 Dec. 2021 See More
Word History
First Known Use
1625, in the meaning defined above
Kids Definition
cowbell
noun
cow·bell ˈkau̇-ˌbel
: a bell hung around the neck of a cow to tell where it is