rodeo

 
Pronunciation: /ˈrəʊdɪəʊ, rə(ʊ)ˈdeɪəʊ/

noun (plural rodeos)

  • 1an exhibition or contest in which cowboys show their skill at riding broncos, roping calves, wrestling steers, etc.: [as modifier]: a rodeo rider [mass noun]: calf-ropers are the whizz-kids of rodeo
  • an exhibition or contest demonstrating other skills, such as motorcycle riding or canoeing: white-water rodeos usually last two or three days
  • 2a round-up of cattle on a ranch for branding, counting, etc..
  • an enclosure on a ranch in which cattle are rounded up for branding, counting, etc..

verb (rodeos, rodeoing, rodeoed)

[no object]
  • compete in a rodeo: I either rodeoed, or went hunting or fishing

Origin:

mid 19th century: from Spanish, from rodear 'go round', based on Latin rotare 'rotate'