Wild Bill Hickok
2
8.9
- proper noun
- Many people admire Wild Bill Hickok for his bravery.
Examples
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Tourists still visit Deadwood to see the place where Wild Bill Hickok met his untimely end.
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Wow! Wild Bill Hickok was quite the character!
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Many movies have portrayed Wild Bill Hickok as a symbol of the American frontier.
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The legendary gunfighter Wild Bill Hickok was known for his quick draw and sense of justice.
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Wild Bill Hickok was a legendary figure in the Old West, known for his sharpshooting and courageous acts.
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Many stories about Wild Bill Hickok's adventures are passed down through generations of American folklore.
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During his time, Wild Bill Hickok earned a reputation as both a lawman and a gunfighter in the frontier towns.
Synonyms
1
9.0
A 19th century American frontier marshal and gunfighter in the Wild West
An American lawman and gambler who is a famous Wild West hero called Wild Bill Hickok
Surface Forms
Morphology
Wild + Bill + Hickok
This is a proper name referring to a specific historical person, so knowing the literal words ('wild', 'Bill', 'Hickok') does not supply the fact that he was a famous frontier lawman and gunfighter. At best a learner might guess 'Wild Bill' is a nickname for a person named Bill, but the cultural-historical identity and fame are arbitrary and not derivable from the constituents, making it unpredictable for a B1 learner.
Etymology
Wild Bill Hickok was the nickname of a real frontier lawman and gunfighter who lived a fast, dangerous life in dusty western towns. People called him Wild Bill because he was fearless and quick with a gun, and that's why his name today is often used as a 'symbol' of the wild, risky spirit of the Old West.