cowboy vs performer

cowboy and performer both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
cowboy	Yes	No	No	No
performer	Yes	No	No	No

As nouns, performer is a hypernym of cowboy; that is, performer is a word with a broader meaning than cowboy:

cowboy: a performer who gives exhibitions of riding and roping and bulldogging
performer: an entertainer who performs a dramatic or musical work for an audience

Other hypernyms of cowboy include performing artist.

cowboy (noun)	performer (noun)
someone who is reckless or irresponsible (especially in driving vehicles)	an entertainer who performs a dramatic or musical work for an audience
a performer who gives exhibitions of riding and roping and bulldogging
a male hired hand who tends cattle and performs other duties on horseback