[Sp. (= Pg. vaqueiro), f. vaca cow. Cf. Prov. vaquier, F. vacher, and It. vaccaro, med.L. vaccārius.]
1. In Spanish America: A cowboy or cowherd; a herdsman or cattle-driver.
1828. Capt. G. F. Lyon, Jrnl. Mexico, 1826, I. 43. The people who attend to these Ranchos are called ‘Rancheros’ and ‘Vaqueros,’ and are a fine, active, athletic race of men.
1837. W. Irving, Adv. Capt. Bonneville, III. 86. The vaqueros, or Indian cattle-drivers.
1851. Mayne Reid, Scalp Hunters, xvii. 119. I found them in the ranche of a vaquero in the woods.
1893. Kate Sanborn, A Truthful Woman S. California, xii. 152. The American vaquero—usually a short, fat man with dumpy legs, who dons a flapping sombrero, [etc.].
attrib. 1880. Bret Harte, Jeff Briggs, ii. Having caparisoned himself and charger in true vaquero style.
2. (See quot.)
1858. Simmonds, Dict. Trade, Vaquero,… a jacket worn by women and children.
