claddagh
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of claddagh
First recorded in 1880–85; named after Claddagh, a fishing village near Galway, Ireland, where the ring was supposedly first designed and made
Explanation
A claddagh is a traditional Irish symbol representing love, loyalty, and friendship. The design of a claddagh consists of two hands holding a crowned heart. The heart of the claddagh represents love; the crown represent loyalty; and the hands represent friendship. The design is most commonly seen in jewelry, especially rings used to represent romantic relationships. The way a person wears the ring — including on which hand and finger and in what direction (inward or outward) the heart is facing — indicates the person's relationship status. The claddagh design comes from an old fishing village, Claddagh, just outside of Galway. It dates back to the 1600s.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A twist of fate would instead see him return home 14 years later, with the smithing skills to craft one of Ireland’s most enduring symbols of love, loyalty, and friendship: the Claddagh ring.
From National Geographic • Jan. 11, 2024
Meanwhile, the Chieftains' leader was soon able to leave behind his ambition of becoming an accountant by becoming Claddagh Records' managing director.
From BBC • Oct. 15, 2021
On Aug. 7, she got a Claddagh ring, a traditional Irish symbol that represents love, loyalty and friendship, on her right forearm, just below her elbow.
From New York Times • Oct. 14, 2021
Bulger's coveted rat-shaped pencil holder sold for $3,600, while his gold diamond Claddagh ring fetched the highest price of the auction at $23,000.
From US News • Jun. 26, 2016
Q. "During that time have you known of any instance of an illegitimate child being born in the village of the Claddagh?"
From The slave trade, domestic and foreign Why It Exists, and How It May Be Extinguished by Carey, H. C. (Henry Charles)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
