maverick
pronunciation
How to pronounce maverick in British English:
UK [ˈmævərɪk]
How to pronounce maverick in American English:
US [ˈmævərɪk, ˈmævrɪk]
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- Noun:
- someone who exhibits great independence in thought and action
- an unbranded range animal (especially a stray calf); belongs to the first person who puts a brand on it
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- Adjective:
- independent in behavior or thought
Word Origin
- maverick
- maverick: [19] Originally, in the American West, a maverick was an unbranded calf that had become separated from its mother and its herd (by convention, any farmer or stockman who came upon such a calf could add it to his herd and brand it as his own). The name probably comes from Samuel Augustus Maverick (1803– 70), a Texas cattle-owner (and ancestor of the Maury Maverick who coined the word gobbledegook) who did not brand the calves of one of his herds. The familiar modern metaphorical application to an awkwardly independent-minded person was in place before the end of the 19th century.
- maverick (n.)
- 1867, "calf or yearling found without an owner's brand," so called for Samuel A. Maverick (1803-1870), Texas cattle owner who was negligent in branding his calves. Sense of "individualist, unconventional person" is first recorded 1886, via notion of "masterless."
Example
- 1. The downside of the system is that it can suppress maverick talent .
- 2. Mr sarkozy is unpopular because of his maverick , divisive style , which has aliented centrist voters .
- 3. Maverick goal is simply to open up .
- 4. Back when he was cultivating a maverick image , mr. mccain portrayed himself as more environmentally aware than the rest of his party .
- 5. She led a somewhat irregular private life ; maverick politicians .