Wild West
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Wild West
the western US during its settlement, esp with reference to its frontier lawlessness
Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
Wild West
ApacheNorth American Indians of Southwest who fought against frontiersmen. [Am. Hist.: NCE, 123]
North American Plains Indians living along the Platte and Arkansas rivers. [Am. Hist.: EB, I: 477–478]
(1851–1878) desperado whose career inspired ballads. [Am. Hist.: NCE, 244]
(c. 1825–1903) legendary frontier judge who ruled by one law book and a six-shooter. [Am. Hist.: NCE, 252]
portraying cattle-owning aristocrats of the Wild West. [TV: Terrace, I, 99–100]
(William H. Bonney, 1859–1881) Brooklyn-born gunman of the Wild West. [Am. Hist.: Worth, 27]
saga of the Cartwright family. [TV: Terrace, I, 111–112]
originally, a western town that prospered suddenly, usually because of gold mines nearby. [Am. Hist.: Misc.]
typical graveyard of gunfighters and their victims. [Am. Folklore: Misc.]
throwing weapon invented by James or Rezin Bowie, frontiersmen in Texas. [Am. Folklore: EB, II: 207]
a series depicting Indian–white man exploits. [TV: Terrace, I, 122]
(Martha Jane Canary Burke, c. 1852–1903) extraordinary markswoman and pony express rider. [Am. Hist.: NCE, 418]
route used by pioneers, extending from Wyoming to Sacramento. [Am. Hist.: WB, 21: 440f]
(1809–1868) frontiersman, guide, and Indian fighter in the West and Southwest. [Am. Hist.: NCE, 466]
North American Indians who made up part of the Wild West scene. [Am. Hist.: NCE, 562]
cowboy of the strong, silent type. [TV: Terrace, I, 153–154]
route used by traders and drovers bringing cattle from Texas to Kansas. [Am. Hist.: NCE, 543]
frontier Methodist preacher who served “appointments” (services) in cabins, schoolhouses, and even taverns. [Am. Hist.: NCE, 561]
(c. 1815–1874) Apache Indian chief who led the fight against white men in the Southwest. [Am. Hist: NCE, 589]
(1846–1917) ex-Army scout who joined and led a famous Wild West show. [Am. Hist.: NCE, 390]
six-shot revolver invented by Samuel Colt and used throughout the West. [Am. Hist.: WB, 4: 684–685]
American Indian tribe; often figured in Wild West stories. [Am. Hist.: NCE, 607]
richest silver deposit in U.S.; famous during frontier days. [Am. Hist.: NCE, 418]
horse-drawn freight wagon; originated in the Conestoga Creek region in Pennsylvania. [Am. Hist.: EB, III: 72]
(1842–1877) Indian chief who led Sioux against the white men in the northern plains. [Am. Hist.: EB, III: 225–226]
U.S. troops led by Col. Custer are massacred by the Indians at Little Big Horn, Montana (1877). [Am. Hist.: NCE, 701]
Wild West city in South Dakota where graves of Hickok and Annie Oakley are located. [Am. Hist.: NCE, 729]
vignettes depicting frontier life. [TV: Terrace, I, 195]
frontier marshal of Dodge City. [TV: “Gun-smoke” in Terrace, I, 331]
onetime rowdy cowboy town under supervision of Bat Masterson and Wyatt Earp. [Am. Hist.: NCE, 776]
(1848–1929) U.S. cowboy, lawman, and gunfighter. [Am. Hist.: NCE, 819]
(1829–1909) renegade Indian of the Wild West. [Am. Hist.: NCE, 1076]
town left vacant after gold strike; common during frontier days. [Am. Hist.: NCE, 1080]
Wild West television epic with Dodge City setting. [TV: Terrace, I, 331–332]
(1837–1876) famous marshal of the West. [Am. Hist.: Hart, 371]
western film in which time is of the essence. [Am. Cinema: Griffith, 396–397]
(fl. late 19th century) outlaw who helped Wyatt Earp fight the Clanton gang at O.K. Corral. [Am. Hist.: Misc.]
popular song about the West “where the buffalo roam” and “the deer and the antelope play.” [Am. Culture: Misc.]
area set aside for the Indians by the U.S. government. [Am. Hist.: NCE, 1331]
(1847–1882) American outlaw of the Wild West. [Am. Hist.: NCE, 1395]
masked hero of the Wild West. [TV: Terrace, II, 34–35; Radio: Buxton, 143–144]
scene of famous gunfight between Wyatt Earp and the Clanton gang (1881). [Am. Hist.: WB, 6: 9]
(1860–1926) sharpshooter; major attraction of Buffalo Bill’s show. [Am. Hist.: NCE, 1982]
popular song about life in the West. [Am. Culture: Misc.]
wagon-train route used by pioneers, extending from Missouri to the Oregon Territory. [Am. Hist.: NCE, 2016]
archetypal gunman who leaves a calling card. [TV: Have Gun, Will Travel in Terrace, I, 341]
giant folk hero famed for cowboy exploits. [Am. Lit.: Hart, 643]
relay mail service during frontier days. [Am. Hist.: NCE, 2190]
horse-drawn wagon used by pioneers; its white canvas top resembled a schooner sailing on the prairie. [Am. Hist.: NCE, 2209]
series depicting cowboys as cattle-punchers along the Santa Fe trail. [TV: Terrace, II, 235]
(fl. late 19th century) notorious outlaw who fought many gun battles in the Southwest. [Am. Hist.: Misc.]
wagon-train route extending from Independence, Missouri to Santa Fe, New Mexico. [Am. Hist.: NCE, 2421]
a classic, serious western film about a pioneer family protected by a mysterious stranger. [Am. Cinema: Halliwell, 651]
confederation of North American Indian tribes; last battle fought at Wounded Knee. [Am. Hist.: NCE, 2527]
(1831–1890) Indian chief who united the Sioux tribes against the white men. [Am. Hist.: EB, IX: 243–244]
stagecoach agent and desperado known for shooting his enemies dead at the drop of a hat. [Am. Lit.: Mark Twain Roughing It in Magill I, 858]
established in 1835, a mounted fighting force to maintain law and order in the West. [Am. Hist.: NCE, 2723]
Arizona town known for its outlaws, prospectors, and gun battles (1800s). [Am. Hist.: EB, X: 36]
company that handled express service to western states; often robbed. [Am. Hist.: NCE, 2953]
repeating rifle manufactured by Oliver Winches-ter and widely used by the settlers of the West. [Am. Hist.: EB, X: 699]
Allusions—Cultural, Literary, Biblical, and Historical: A Thematic Dictionary. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.