maverick

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“
But, a maverick is also one who cannot be identified as belonging to any specific herd.

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Definitions (11)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (3)

  1. noun An unbranded range animal, especially a calf that has become separated from its mother, traditionally considered the property of the first person who brands it.
  2. noun One that refuses to abide by the dictates of or resists adherence to a group; a dissenter.
  3. adjective Being independent in thought and action or exhibiting such independence: maverick politicians; a maverick decision.

Toggle Century definitions Century Dictionary (3)

Toggle GNU Webster definitions GNU Webster's 1913 (2)

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Examples (19)

  • The Giuliani voters may surprise as well, as many of his fans in California are conservatives who were willing to overlook Rudy's views on abortion in order to win, but who are now facing a possible McCain nomination and the recognition that the Arizona maverick is a phenomenally weak general election candidate upon whom the Dems and MSM will fall as soon as he has the nomination locked up. —  Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog
  • And the campaign is determined to provide information about her record that would portray her as a maverick, the word they love to use, as somebody who has fought entrenched interests in Alaska … —  CJR
  • The lack of new ideas even though he is running as a maverick is a major reason why. —  AN ANGRY DAKOTA DEMOCRAT
  • As I've said some weeks ago on another thread, occasionally a maverick is a profile in courage, but more often it's an antisocial personality disorder. —  TIME.com: Top Stories
  • You well know I've been called a maverick, someone who-someone who marches to the beat of his own drum. —  Democracy Now!
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Etymologies (3)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Possibly after Samuel Augustus Maverick (1803-1870), American cattleman who left the calves in his herd unbranded .

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (2)

  1. So called from one Samuel Maverick, a Texan cattle-raiser, who, according to one account, relying upon the natural conformation of his cattle-range to prevent escape, neglected to brand his cattle, which, having on one occasion stampeded and scattered over the surrounding country, became confused with other unbranded cattle in that region, all such being presumed to be “Maverick's”; whence the term maverick for all such unbranded animals in the cattle region.
  2. from maverick, n.
 

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/ˈmævərɪk/
by American Heritage

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