open mike, ME, too! Though my dad used the term "cow man" for himself and his dad, etc., that was a distinction meant for the ranch owners, but not always or only. They hired cowboys and cow men both to work on their ranch. It infuriated dad whenever he heard the shrub refer to himself as a cowboy. It was quite an insult in his opinion.

There is also the expression to "cowboy up" which is the same as "suck it up" which is to say do what ya gotta do and quite whining about it. Sometimes I don't mind it, but I do not like it when the old "take it like a man" is implied. THEN it bothers me.