night-herdern.
/ˈnʌɪtˌhəːdə/, U.S. /ˈnaɪtˌ(h)ərdər/ U.S. regional (western). Now chiefly historical.
A person who herds or guards cattle or other animals at night.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > keeping of cattle > [noun] > herding of cattle > cowherd
cowherda1000
oxherd1281
geldherd1284
nowtherd1296
neatherd1301
drover1384
catcherc1400
caller?a1500
ox-boy1580
neatress1586
harrier1591
cowherdess1611
spurn-cow1614
neatherdess1648
cowgirl1753
herds-woman1818
oxman1820
ranchero1825
topsman1825
vaquero1826
herdsmaiden1829
overlander1841
cattle-herd1845
cowboy1849
buckaroo1852
stock-rider1862
pointer1869
night-herder1870
puncher1870
bull-puncher1872
outrider1872
cowpuncher1873
range man1875
cow-puncher1878
herd-boy1878
cow-girl1884
trail-herd1885
trail boss1890
nighthawk1903
point man1903
swing man1903
top hand1912
charro1926
waddy1927
cattle-puncher1928
cowpoke1928
paniolo1947
1870 J. H. Beadle Life in Utah 223 The mules were fed, turned out and given in charge of the night herder.
1873 J. H. Beadle Undeveloped West v. 98 The ‘night-herder’ Billy Keyes, and two other drivers..were Gentiles.
1891 C. Roberts Adrift in Amer. 188 The night herders renewed it [sc. the fire] from time to time.
1926 Mississippi Valley Hist. Rev. 13 297 He appears as a common, ordinary frontiersman: in the army a private, in the freight outfit a humble night-herder, with the cattle herds a cowboy.
1955 D. Maccowan Upland Trails 18 Mortal scared of a bear and an awful headache to a night-herder but a grand horse on a long steep trail.
1999 Arizona Republic (Nexis) 21 Mar. ev8 The plaintive laments of old-time cowpokes, cattle branders and night herders.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.1870