Fenian

[ fee-nee-uhn, feen-yuhn ]

noun
  1. a member of an Irish revolutionary organization founded in New York in 1858, which worked for the establishment of an independent Irish republic.

  2. (in late Irish legends) a member of a group of warriors always ready to defend Ireland against its enemies.

Origin of Fenian

1
1810–20; <Irish féinne (genitive of fiann band of Fenians) + -ian; influenced by Old Irish féne ancient inhabitant of Ireland

Other words from Fenian

  • Fe·ni·an·ism, noun

Words Nearby Fenian

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How to use Fenian in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for Fenian

Fenian

/ (ˈfiːnɪən) /


noun
  1. (formerly) a member of an Irish revolutionary organization founded in the US in the 19th century to fight for an independent Ireland

  2. Irish myth one of the Fianna

  1. derogatory, offensive an Irish Catholic or a person of Irish Catholic descent

adjective
  1. of or relating to the Fenians

Origin of Fenian

1
C19: from Irish Gaelic fēinne, plural of fian band of warriors

Derived forms of Fenian

  • Fenianism, noun

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