maverick
UK[ˈmævərɪk]US[ˈmævərɪk]
n
A person who thinks and acts independently, often behaving differently from what is usual or expected.
adj
Showing independence of thought or action; unorthodox.
Etymology
The word 'maverick' is an eponym, originating from the surname of Samuel A. Maverick (1803–1870), a Texas lawyer and rancher. Unlike common practice, he refused to brand his cattle, leading unbranded calves found wandering the range to be called "mavericks." This literal sense of an unbranded, ownerless animal was first recorded in the 1860s. By the 1880s, the term had undergone semantic extension, applying figuratively to a person who does not conform to a group, carrying the core idea of being independent and unmarked by the conventional "brand" of a particular ideology or party.
Analysis
The entire word 'maverick' functions as a single, unsegmentable morpheme in modern English. It is a proper noun that evolved into a common noun and adjective.
Examples
Throughout his political career, he was seen as a maverick who often voted against his own party.
The company is known for its maverick approach to marketing, breaking all the traditional rules.
The film tells the story of a maverick scientist whose theories were initially ridiculed.