Skip to main content
Little Bighorn River

Little Bighorn River

6.9
A river in the western United States famous for the 1876 Battle of the Little Bighorn
  • proper noun
  • /ˈlɪtəl ˈbɪɡhɔrn ˈrɪvər/
translation icon : río Little Bighorn
  • The Little Bighorn River flows through northern Wyoming and is known for its role in Custer's Last Stand.

Examples

  • The Little Bighorn River is famous as the site of Custer's Last Stand in 1876.

  • The banks of the Little Bighorn River are rich in wildlife and natural beauty.

  • Many tourists visit the Little Bighorn River to learn about its historical significance.

  • The Little Bighorn River is known for its historical significance.

  • Have you ever visited the Little Bighorn River?

  • Many tourists visit the Little Bighorn River to learn about the site of the historic Battle of the Little Bighorn.

  • In summer, people often kayak on the waters of the Little Bighorn River, which is famous for its history.

Synonyms

Little Bighorn
vsLittle Bighorn River
6.7

A river in Wyoming and Montana that flows by the 1876 battle site

focuses on the river flowing into the Bighorn River rather than just its fame
Little Horn
vsLittle Bighorn River
8.1

A river that flows from northern Wyoming into the Bighorn River in southern Montana known for Custer's Last Stand

uses the formal battle name rather than the famous phrase for the event

Surface Forms

Morphology

Little + Bighorn + river

The noun 'river' makes the basic referent transparent: a B1 learner who knows the words will recognise this as a river named 'Little Bighorn' and can infer 'little' indicates a smaller or subsidiary form relative to 'Bighorn'. However, 'Bighorn' functions as a proper name (and the specific geographic/historical information cannot be derived from the parts), so the full meaning is not fully predictable without prior knowledge.

Etymology

The place name Little Bighorn River comes from a simple image: the 'Little' part shows it is the smaller branch of the larger Bighorn River, and Bighorn probably refers to the big horned sheep once seen on the hills. That's why the name fits the river today and is also remembered as the site of the famous 'Battle of the Little Bighorn' or 'Custer's Last Stand'.