William Bligh
1
7.7
- proper noun
- After the mutiny, William Bligh navigated a small boat over 4,000 miles to safety.
Examples
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The story of William Bligh and the mutiny on the Bounty is legendary in maritime history.
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Many historians have debated whether William Bligh was a harsh captain or a misunderstood leader.
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Captain William Bligh was known for his strict discipline.
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Did William Bligh really deserve the reputation he had?
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After the mutiny, William Bligh navigated a small boat over 4,000 miles to safety.
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The story of William Bligh and the mutiny on the Bounty is legendary in maritime history.
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Many historians have debated whether William Bligh was a harsh captain or a misunderstood leader.
Synonyms
2
9.1
A British navy captain who led the ship Bounty during a famous mutiny
1
8.9
A British naval officer who survived after his crew set him adrift from the Bounty
Surface Forms
Morphology
William + Bligh
This is a proper name referring to a historical individual; knowing the constituent words 'William' and 'Bligh' does not allow a B1 learner to infer the biographical meaning (British admiral, captain of HMS Bounty, mutiny). Proper nouns are referential and require world-knowledge rather than compositional word-meaning, so the expression is not derivable from its parts.
Etymology
William Bligh was a British sea captain famous for the mutiny on the Bounty. After the mutiny he sailed a small open boat with loyal men over 4,000 miles to safety, and that brave journey and his strict style is why his name often makes people think of 'tough leadership' and 'survival'.