mav·er·ick
–noun
1. Southwestern U.S. an unbranded calf, cow, or steer, esp. an unbranded calf that is separated from its mother.
2. a lone dissenter, as an intellectual, an artist, or a politician, who takes an independent stand apart from his or her associates.
3. ( initial capital letter ) an electro-optically guided U.S. air-to-ground tactical missile for destroying tanks and other hardened targets at ranges up to 15 mi. (24 km).
Origin:
1865–70, Americanism ; after Samuel A. Maverick (1803–70), Texas pioneer who left his calves unbranded
—Synonyms
nonconformist, independent, loner.
meer·kat
–noun
suricate.
Origin:
D: lit., monkey, appar. = meer see ( see mere2 ) + kat cat