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Rob Roy

Rob Roy

9.3
A Scottish clan leader and outlaw who became a folk hero after Sir Walter Scott's novel
  • proper noun
  • /rɑb rɔɪ/
translation icon : Rob Roy
  • The legend of Rob Roy continues to inspire storytellers across Scotland.

Examples

  • Sir Walter Scott's novel brought Rob Roy to international fame.

  • The legend of Rob Roy continues to inspire many.

  • Many historians debate the true character of Rob Roy as both hero and outlaw.

  • Have you read about Rob Roy in history class?

  • In the story, Rob Roy is portrayed as a brave leader of his clan who defies authority.

  • The novel about Rob Roy depicts his adventures in the Scottish Highlands.

  • Many people admire Rob Roy for his resistance against oppressive rule in Scotland.

Synonyms

Rob Roy MacGregor
vsRob Roy
9.2

A leader of a Scottish clan and an outlaw who fought the government in the early 1700s

is celebrated as a folk hero through an 1817 novel rather than for resisting authorities

Surface Forms

Rob Roy main

Morphology

Rob + Roy

This is a proper name for a specific cocktail (named after the historical/fictional figure Rob Roy) rather than a compositional phrase. Knowing the constituent words 'Rob' and 'Roy' (personal names) gives no clue to the drink's ingredients or meaning, so the sense is lexicalized and unpredictable to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Rob Roy comes from a real Scottish man, Robert Roy MacGregor, an 18th-century clan leader and outlaw who became a folk hero. Sir Walter Scott's novel made Rob Roy famous around the world, so today the name usually refers to that well-known man.