Captain Kidd

2 8.8

A Scottish captain who protected British ships but later was accused of stealing at sea and hanged

proper noun
/ˈkæptɪn kɪd/

: Capitán Kidd

The notorious Captain Kidd was tried and executed for piracy in 1701.

Examples

Legends say Captain Kidd buried treasure that has yet to be found.
Historians debate whether Captain Kidd was truly a pirate or a scapegoat.
Many stories have been told about Captain Kidd.
Did you know that Captain Kidd was once a privateer?
The notorious Captain Kidd was tried and executed for piracy in 1701.
Legends say Captain Kidd buried treasure that has yet to be found.
Historians debate whether Captain Kidd was truly a pirate or a scapegoat.

Synonyms

William Kidd

vsCaptain Kidd

1 7.8

A Scottish sea captain later accused of stealing from ships and executed

prefers a rank title form instead of the full personal name

Surface Forms

Captain Kidd main

Morphology

captain + Kidd

A B1 learner who knows 'captain' and recognizes 'Kidd' as a name can transparently infer this refers to a captain named Kidd (i.e., a ship's commander), so the occupational component is clear. However, the specific historical identity and details (Scottish origin, piracy, execution) cannot be derived from the constituents, and proper names do not convey those extra facts, making the overall expression only partially transparent.

Etymology

Captain Kidd comes from a real Scottish sea captain in the 1600s who was hired to protect ships but later accused of being a pirate and hanged. Legends that he buried treasure made his name a short way to mean 'a famous pirate' or 'hidden treasure', so today Captain Kidd brings to mind pirates and lost treasure.