cowbell
cowbell Lexical Profile
cowbell Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A metal bell hung around the neck of a cow or other grazing animal so that it can be easily located by the sound of its ringing.
"The faint clinking of a cowbell echoed across the alpine pasture as the herd grazed in the morning mist."
A hand-held or mounted metallic percussion instrument shaped like an agricultural bell but lacking a clapper, played by striking the exterior with a drumstick to produce a sharp, resonant tone.
"The percussionist struck the cowbell on every beat to drive the salsa rhythm forward."
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in Middle English as a compound of 'cow' (from Old English 'cu') and 'bell' (from Old English 'belle'). Originally denoting an agricultural implement for tracking livestock, it was adopted into Latin American and popular music percussion sections in the early 20th century.