/mav"euhr ik, mav"rik/ , n.
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. ( cap. ) 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).
[ 1865-70, Amer.; after Samuel A. Maverick (1803-70), Texas pioneer who left his calves unbranded ]
Syn. 2. nonconformist, independent, loner.