What does mavrick really mean?

Written by AnnieOakley on October 16, 2008

I've been hearing this word far too often these days, so let's see what it really means.

According to alpha dictionary, mavrick has 2 meanings: 1. A calf or other animal that has left the herd and has not been branded, so that anyone who brands it can claim ownership. 2. A garrulous individualist, an iconoclast who lives by his or her own rules, posing a threat to others.

But here's the good part; the word comes from Samuel Maverick, a Texas rancher who didn't brand his cattle. His grandson, Maury, coined the term gobbledygook to describe bureaucratic doubletalk. He based the word on the gobbling sound turkeys make. ". . . always gobbledy-gobbling and strutting with ludicrous pomposity." How appropos . . .

BTW: If you like words, check out alphadictinary.com for a very cool word of the day everyday-