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Black and Tan

noun
  1. Usually Black and Tans. an armed force of about 6000 soldiers sent by the British government to Ireland in June, 1920, to suppress revolutionary activity: so called from the colors of their uniform.
  2. a member of this force.
  3. (lowercase) a drink made of equal parts of ale and stout or porter.
  4. (lowercase) a black-and-tan dog.
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Origin of Black and Tan

1880–85 for def 4
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
British Dictionary definitions for black and tans

Black and Tans

pl n
  1. the Black and Tans a specially recruited armed auxiliary police force sent to Ireland in 1921 by the British Government to combat Sinn Féin
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Word Origin for Black and Tans

name suggested by the colour of their uniforms and the Black and Tans hunt in Munster

black and tan

noun
  1. a mixture of stout or porter and ale
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012