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from
Brown Corpus
21 swingin' a wide loop
the first use of the word `` rustler '' was as a synonym for `` hustler '', becomin' an established term for any person who was active, pushin', and bustlin' in any enterprise.
Again it was used as the title for the hoss wrangler, and when the order was given to go out and `` rustle the hosses '', it meant for 'im to go out and herd 'em in.
Eventually herdin' the hosses was spoken of as `` hoss rustlin' '', and the wrangler was called the `` hoss rustler ''.
Later, the word became almost exclusively applied to a cow thief, startin' from the days of the maverick when cowhands were paid by their employers to `` get out and rustle a few mavericks ''.
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