Billy the Kid
1
6.6
- proper noun
- /ˈbɪli ðə kɪd/
:
Billy el Niño
- In history books, Billy the Kid is often portrayed as a symbol of the rebellious spirit of the Old West.
Examples
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Over this whole country, another image—that of Billy the Kid.
Academic text (1998) -
Billy the Kid was a famous American outlaw known for his quick draw and involvement in numerous gunfights.
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My guess is they're with Billy the Kid and his gang.
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Marshal Cogburn, did you ever come up against Jesse James or Billy the Kid?
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And so Momaday begins his tale of Set with the legend of Billy the Kid, and he explains Set with the myth of the bear:
Academic text (1998) -
In the opening paragraph of Borges's rewriting of the legend of Billy the Kid, for example, the connection between this use of montage and the epic is very clear.
Academic text (1998) -
Many tales are told about Billy the Kid, highlighting his escapades and the legend he became.
Synonyms
16
8.7
A person in the Old West who uses guns very well, often a sheriff or outlaw
Surface Forms
Morphology
Billy + the + kid
This is a fixed proper name referring to a specific historical outlaw; knowing the constituents ('Billy', 'the', 'kid' where 'kid' means a young person) would not let a B1 learner infer the referent is a famous American outlaw reputed to have killed many men. The nickname is conventionalized and referential, so its specific historical meaning is not derivable from the parts.
Etymology
Billy the Kid began as a nickname for a very young outlaw in the American West. People used Billy as a short form of William and the Kid because he was still a teenager, and that picture of a young, quick gunman is why his name now stands for a famous 'outlaw'.