cowbell
Herd-tracking noisemaker
A cowbell is a bell hung around a cow's neck so farmers can locate the animal by sound.
The same bell, or one modeled after it, appears in music—struck with a drumstick as a percussion instrument.
More cowbell became a catchphrase after a comedy sketch satirizing excessive use of the instrument in rock recordings.
Bell's internal striker
- strikerOne who hits targets
- malletSoft-headed striking tool
- beatRhythmic pulse or strike
- rhythmPatterned stress and silence
groove · tempo · accent · backbeat · syncopation · salsa · cha-cha · mambo
Copper-tin alloy
- clangLoud metallic sound
- resonanceAmplified oscillation at natural frequency
- timbreSound's distinctive character
- toneQuality of sound
pitched · unpitched · metal · cast · forged · hammered · vibration · overtone
Grazing animals together
- grazingFeeding on pasture
- pastureGrazing ground for livestock
- meadowGrassy field for grazing
- flockAnimals gathered together
shepherd · alpine · dairy · ranch · goat · sheep · collar · neck strap
Urgent warning signal
- warningAlert about danger
- locateDiscover the position of
- trackingMonitoring location over time
- homingSteering toward a target
alert · sound · audible · marker · presence · movement · distance · approach
- Saturday Night LiveWeekly late-night sketch program
- sketchHasty informal drawing
- catchphraseSignature line of words
- parodySatirical imitation
Christopher Walken · humor · spoof · gag · punchline · funny · improv · satire
clapper
Bell's internal striker
rhythm · groove · tempo · accent · backbeat · syncopation · salsa · cha-cha · mambo · timbales
bronze
Copper-tin alloy
- clangLoud metallic sound
- resonanceAmplified oscillation at natural frequency
- timbreSound's distinctive character
tone · pitched · unpitched · metal · cast · forged · hammered · vibration · overtone · sustain
herd
Grazing animals together
flock · shepherd · alpine · dairy · ranch · goat · sheep · collar · neck strap · locate
alarm
Urgent warning signal
homing · alert · sound · audible · marker · presence · movement · distance · approach · predator
Will Ferrell
- Saturday Night LiveWeekly late-night sketch program
- sketchHasty informal drawing
- catchphraseSignature line of words
Christopher Walken · parody · humor · spoof · gag · punchline · funny · improv · satire · meme
- beginner instrumentsrecorder, xylophone, tambourine, triangle, maracas
- bellschurch bells, tower bells, dinner bells, handbell, temple bells
- music gearguitar, amplifiers, piano, amps, keyboard
- Latin Percussioncongas, bongos, timbales, claves, maracas
- bell shapesbellflower, bluebell, handbell, harebell, foxglove
- Afro-Cuban Musicrumba, clave, conga, bongos, claves
cowbellpiano
Keyed percussion instrument
violin · xylophone · marimba · vibraphone · glockenspiel
cowbellsinging bowl
Percussion instrument for meditation
crystal glass · tuning fork · church bell · gong · wind chimes
cowbellStradivarius
Prized antique string instrument
symphony orchestra · pipe organ · harpsichord · oboe · French horn