shillelagh
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of shillelagh
First recorded in 1670–80; from Irish Síol Éalaigh, the name of a town in County Wicklow; the adjoining forest provided wood for the clubs
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.
He celebrated the nearly perfect performance by putting his hands on a shillelagh.
From Washington Times • Aug. 27, 2023
The past month I’ve been staring down the shillelagh of an actual, real holiday.
From Washington Post • Mar. 12, 2021
Kenneth More, as an Irish general, hauls a bulldog named Winston onto the beach and waves his shillelagh.
From The New Yorker • Jun. 6, 2014
Not to be confused with the guy on the Lucky Charms box, ND's Leprechaun pumps out push-ups when the Fighting Irish score, wields a shillelagh and supposedly has magical powers.
From Seattle Times • Aug. 21, 2010
“Yes, Foaly. Don’t act so surprised. I have more successful recons under my belt than any officer in history. Plus I did my basic training in Ireland. Back in the top hat and shillelagh days.”
From "Artemis Fowl" by Eoin Colfer
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.
