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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.

See Examples For:

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

“I feel like La Linda has known men like William Tell her whole life. And she found something in him that’s different than the others. That’s worth it,” Haddish said.

From Los Angeles Times Sep. 15, 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 a speck what he does.

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

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 Sir Noel's Heir A Novel by Fleming, May Agnes

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 Emerson, Alice B.

Tell William Long to haul the boat up, and let the rowers go to deep on the shore.

From Friends, though divided A Tale of the Civil War by Henty, G. A. (George Alfred)

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