Irish

[ ahy-rish ]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Ireland, its inhabitants, or their language.

noun

1. the inhabitants of Ireland and their descendants elsewhere.
2. the aboriginal Celtic-speaking people of Ireland.
3. Also called Irish Gaelic. the Celtic language of Ireland in its historical or modern form. : Ir, Ir. Compare Middle Irish, Old Irish.
4. Irish English.
5. Irish whiskey.

Irish

/ ˈaɪrɪʃ /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Ireland, its people, their Celtic language, or their dialect of English
2. informal.
   ludicrous or illogical

noun

1. the Irish
   the Irish functioning as plural the natives or inhabitants of Ireland
2. See Irish Gaelic
   another name for Irish Gaelic

Sensitive Note

See Irish pennant.

Other Words From

• Irish·ly adverb
• anti-Irish adjective noun
• half-Irish adjective
• non-Irish adjective noun
• pre-Irish adjective
• pro-Irish adjective
• pseudo-Irish adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Irish¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English Yrisse, Iris(c)h; compare Old English Īras people of Ireland (cognate with Old Norse Īrar ); -ish ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. get one's Irish up, Informal. to become angry or outraged:

   Don't go getting your Irish up over a little matter like that.

More idioms and phrases containing Irish

see luck of the devil (Irish) .

Example Sentences

Only female couples who have conceived in an Irish clinic with a non anonymous donor and a child born in Ireland are covered.

From Washington Blade

That evening he and an Army sergeant who stayed with him tried to boil an Irish stew in Stanton’s fireplace.

From Washington Post

Facebook then appealed that ruling, saying the newly introduced GDPR now definitely meant only the Irish regulator could take it to court.

From Fortune

The Irish actor Gabriel Byrne has had a rich and varied career.

From Washington Post

Optimum Nutrition is an Irish owned company with Illinois roots that focuses on whey-based protein supplements to support sports nutrition.

From Popular-Science

The month of May will see an Irish referendum on the legalization of same-sex marriage.

From The Daily Beast

After years at the head of a parochial school classroom, he could no longer distinguish one blond Irish Catholic kid from another.

From The Daily Beast

A notably large Irish contingent took part in the infamous draft riots because they did not want to compete for jobs with blacks.

From The Daily Beast

It is a reasonable assumption, considering his roots in the Republican Party, in the Marines, and his proud Scots-Irish roots.

From The Daily Beast

Irish immigrants were more likely to vote Democratic, and German immigrants voted Republican.

From The Daily Beast

The Irish Peasantry are idle, the English say truly enough; but who inquires whether there is any work within their reach?

From Project Gutenberg

While a counsellor was pleading at the Irish bar, a louse unluckily peeped from under his wig.

From Project Gutenberg

Two Irish soldiers being stationed in a borough in the west of England, got into a conversation respecting their quarters.

From Project Gutenberg

Moore cared not for it; indeed, I think that Irish gentlemen smoke much less than English.

From Project Gutenberg

An Irish clergyman insisted that it was the little hamlet of Auburn, in the county of Westmeath.

From Project Gutenberg