a person who takes part in an armed rebellion against the constituted authority (especially in the hope of improving conditions);
someone who exhibits great independence in thought and action;
`johnny'' was applied as a nickname for Confederate soldiers by the Federal soldiers in the American Civil War; `grayback'' derived from their gray Confederate uniforms;
take part in a rebellion; renounce a former allegiance;
break with established customs;
used by northerners of Confederate soldiers; "the rebel yell";
