Martha Jane Burke
- proper noun
- Many historians debate which exploits of Martha Jane Burke are fact and which are legend.
Examples
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Stories of Martha Jane Burke have become part of American frontier folklore.
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A new biography explores the life and adventures of Martha Jane Burke in the Wild West.
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Martha Jane Burke was a remarkable woman.
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Many stories are told about Martha Jane Burke and her adventures.
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A new biography explores the life and adventures of Martha Jane Burke in the Wild West.
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Many historians debate which exploits of Martha Jane Burke are fact and which are legend.
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Stories of Martha Jane Burke have become part of American frontier folklore.
Synonyms
1
8.2
A woman of the American West famous for shooting skills and a bold life
Surface Forms
Morphology
Martha + Jane + Burke
This is a referential proper name for a historical person (Calamity Jane); knowing the constituent names 'Martha', 'Jane', and 'Burke' does not allow a learner to infer that the phrase denotes a 19th‑century frontierswoman or her characteristics. Proper names are arbitrary and non-compositional, so the meaning requires cultural/historical knowledge rather than derivation from the parts.
Etymology
Martha Jane Burke was a real Wild West woman, better known as Calamity Jane, who rode with soldiers, wore men's clothes, and became famous for brave deeds and good shooting. That's why her name now brings to mind a tough, adventurous woman and many frontier 'legends'.