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Glite Dictionary
Bartholomew Roberts

Bartholomew Roberts

1 8.4
A Welsh pirate called Black Bart who captured hundreds of ships in the early 1700s
  • proper noun
: Bartholomew Roberts
  • Bartholomew Roberts amassed a fortune by capturing hundreds of ships during the Golden Age of Piracy.

Examples

  • The feared pirate Bartholomew Roberts was eventually killed in battle off the coast of West Africa.

  • The infamous Bartholomew Roberts was known as Black Bart.

  • History books often describe Bartholomew Roberts as one of the most successful pirates of all time.

  • Did Bartholomew Roberts really capture over 400 ships?

  • Bartholomew Roberts was a notorious figure who captured more than 400 ships during his adventures as a pirate.

  • Many stories about Bartholomew Roberts depict his cunning strategies and daring escapes in pursuit of treasure.

  • Noted in maritime history, Bartholomew Roberts remains a legendary pirate known for his audacious raids.

Surface Forms

Bartholomew Roberts main

Morphology

Bartholomew + Roberts

The item is a proper name composed of two personal-name constituents; knowing 'Bartholomew' and 'Roberts' only signals that this is a person's name, not the specific biographical information (Welsh pirate, 'Black Bart', famed for capturing ships). The MWE's referential, encyclopedic meaning cannot be derived from the constituents alone, so a B1 learner would not be able to infer the full sense without prior exposure.

Etymology

Bartholomew Roberts was a Welsh pirate nicknamed 'Black Bart' who sailed in the early 1700s and captured more than 400 ships. That's why his name now brings to mind a very successful and feared 'pirate'.