galloglass

or gal·low·glass

[ gal-oh-glas, -glahs ]

noun

, Irish History.

1. a follower and supporter of or a soldier owing allegiance to an Irish chief.

galloglass

/ ˈɡæləʊˌɡlɑːs /

noun

1. a heavily armed mercenary soldier, originally Hebridean (Gaelic-Norse), maintained by Irish and some other Celtic chiefs from about 1235 to the 16th century

Word History and Origins

Origin of galloglass¹

1505–15; < Irish gallóglách, equivalent to gall a stranger, foreigner + óglach a youth, soldier, servant, derivative of Old Irish óac, óc young

Word History and Origins

Origin of galloglass¹

C16: from Irish Gaelic gallóglach, from gall foreigner + óglach, young warrior-servant, from og young + -lach a noun suffix

Example Sentences

Galloglass, gal′lo-glas, n. a soldier or armed retainer of a chief in ancient Ireland and other Celtic countries.

From Project Gutenberg