maverick

noun6

1. •
   One who is unconventional or does not abide by rules.

   • Among historians he was a maverick because of his belief that history is meaningless.
2. •
   One who creates or uses controversial or unconventional ideas or practices.

   • We then drift back into our old habits, glorify efficiency, and smile knowingly at the mavericks within the faculty who want the administration to take democracy seriously. — 1947
3. •
   An unbranded range animal.

   • Long Bill was a graduate of the camp and trail. Luck and thrift, a cool head, and a telescopic eye for mavericks had raised him from cowboy to be a cowman. — 1907
4. •
   A person in the military who became an officer by going to college while on active duty as an enlisted person.

   • They had been working for and with each other for a very long period and their tolerance for “mavericks” was very high, especially if these mavericks continued to get promoted. — 2013
5. •
   (slang) A queen and a jack as a starting hand in Texas hold ’em.
6. •
   Anything dishonestly obtained.

adjective2

1. •
   Showing independence in thoughts or actions.

   • He made a maverick decision.
   • She is such a maverick person.
2. •
   Unbranded.

   • But I would rather have maverick cattle, they are more accustomed to range conditions. My cattle from the registered herd have not done too well. — 1963

verb2

1. •
   (US) To take an unbranded range animal.
2. •
   To seize without a legal claim.

noun2

1. •
   A member of one of the sports teams with a mascot called Maverick.
2. •
   Someone who attends, or has attended in the past, one of these schools, especially one involved in the sports teams.