maverick

[ mav-er-ik, mav-rik ]

noun

1. Southwestern U.S. an unbranded calf, cow, or steer, especially an unbranded calf that is separated from its mother.
2. 1. a lone dissenter, such as an intellectual, an artist, or a politician, who takes an independent stand apart from their peers:

      His unusual techniques made him a maverick of modern dance.

   2. a person pursuing rebellious, even potentially disruptive, policies or ideas:

      You can't muzzle a maverick.

3. Maverick, an electro-optically guided U.S. air-to-ground tactical missile for destroying tanks and other hardened targets at ranges up to 15 miles (24 km).

adjective

1. unorthodox, unconventional, or nonconformist:

   She had a reputation as a maverick fiscal conservative willing to raise taxes.

maverick

/ ˈmævərɪk /

noun

1. (in US and Canadian cattle-raising regions) an unbranded animal, esp a stray calf
2. 1. a person of independent or unorthodox views
   2. ( as modifier )

      a maverick politician

Word History and Origins

Origin of maverick¹

An Americanism dating back to 1865–70; named after Samuel A. Maverick (1803–70), Texas pioneer who left his calves unbranded

Word History and Origins

Origin of maverick¹

C19: after Samuel A. Maverick (1803–70), Texas rancher, who did not brand his cattle

Example Sentences

To be bold, to be a maverick, to stretch beyond established limits, is the stuff of inspiration.

From The Daily Beast

Williams scored his first Oscar nomination playing maverick U.S. Armed Services DJ Adrian Cronauer in Good Morning, Vietnam.

From The Daily Beast

Then, one day, a maverick doctor gave him a miracle too fantastic to believe.

From The Daily Beast

Instead, the former five-term congressman said, “They just look at me as a maverick curmudgeon.”

From The Daily Beast

Instead, Pressler is already figuring out ways that he can leverage his power as a maverick senator.

From The Daily Beast

Thats two of them, old Maverick, called Stone, breathing on his smarting right hand.

From Project Gutenberg

It was the rule of the cattlemen that a "maverick" belonged to the ranchman on whose range it was found.

From Project Gutenberg

They say—they think I ought to get married—to Maverick or somebody.

From Project Gutenberg

Maverick, I saw it all, and I can swear it was self-defense.

From Project Gutenberg

Maverick covered her with his coat after she was no longer conscious.

From Project Gutenberg