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Showing results for William Tell. Search instead for Quillen William.
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  • William Tell
    William Tell
    noun
    a legendary Swiss patriot forced by the Austrian governor to shoot an apple off his son's head with bow and arrow.
  • Tell, William
    Tell, William
    A legendary hero of Switzerland, famous for his skill as an archer. A tyrannical official forced him to shoot an apple off his son's head.

William Tell

American  

noun

  1. a legendary Swiss patriot forced by the Austrian governor to shoot an apple off his son's head with bow and arrow.


Tell, William Cultural  
  1. A legendary hero of Switzerland, famous for his skill as an archer. A tyrannical official forced him to shoot an apple off his son's head.


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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That’s why, McKinney says, motels like the Red Apple and William Tell chose to brand themselves so distinctively.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 15, 2025

Finally, the film gets surrealistic and even incorporates the William Tell scene from Burroughs' own life.

From Salon ● Dec. 1, 2024

There is Rat Island, nothing more than a pile of rocks with a strange statue of the Swiss folk hero William Tell.

From Scientific American ● Oct. 12, 2021

As the movie opens, Isaac’s character, William Tell, explains how he came to learn his trade: in military prison, where he’s been serving a sentence that only later comes fully into focus.

From Washington Post ● Sep. 8, 2021

William Tell was a good shot and put an arrow through an apple on his son's head.

From "Hole in My Life" by Jack Gantos

Said the Herald-American: "Tell William . . . and let William Tell."

From Time Magazine Archive

Tell William Platt I don’t care what he does.

From A Bundle of Letters by Henry James

Tell William Platt I don’t care a speck what he does.

From Lady Barbarina The Siege of London, An International Episode and Other Tales by Henry James

Tell William to have the carriage at the door at a quarter-past three; and do you pack my dressing-case, and the few things I shall need for two or three days' absence.

From Norine's Revenge; Sir Noel's Heir by May Agnes Fleming

Tell William and the other boys to keep their eyes open for him.

From Ruth Fielding in the Great Northwest Or, The Indian Girl Star of the Movies by Alice B. Emerson

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