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Glite Dictionary
Huck Finn

Huck Finn

16 5.8
A mischievous and adventurous boy who is the main character in Mark Twain's novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
  • proper noun
  • Literature
: Huck Finn
  • Hey, Huck Finn.

Examples

  • Many readers admire Huck Finn for his bravery and loyalty to his friends.

  • In 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn', Huck Finn often finds himself in tricky situations.

  • My little Huck Finn.

    The Highwaymen (2019)

  • Huck Finn is known for his adventurous spirit and cleverness in the story.

Synonyms

Huckleberry Finn
vsHuck Finn
  • Literature
14 7.8

A boy in a famous book by Mark Twain who has adventures on the Mississippi River

is the familiar short form of that full given name

Surface Forms

Huck Finn main

Morphology

Huck + Finn

This is a proper name for a specific literary character, so its meaning (the protagonist of Twain's novel) is not compositionally derived from the parts. 'Huck' is not a lexical item with a predictable meaning and 'Finn' at best suggests a nationality; the character identity and attributes require cultural or literary knowledge, making the expression non‑derivable for a B1 learner who only knows the constituents.

Etymology

Huck Finn comes from Mark Twain's book about a young boy who runs away and floats down the Mississippi on a small raft with his friend. Because he lives by his own rules and loves adventure, calling someone 'a real Huck Finn' means they are 'adventurous' and a little 'mischievous'.