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
Explanation
You can use the noun shillelagh to talk about a wooden stick that's used as a weapon, especially if you're in Ireland. This hardwood cudgel is named after the forest in County Wicklow which has produced many prime specimens of it. The shillelagh is beloved to the Irish and devotees of their patron saint the world over. You don't have to be Irish to wield one, but it helps. The trickiest thing about shillelagh is pronouncing it so that it sounds a bit like ukulele: shill-lay-lee.
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.
On Feb. 4, the Astoria Horror Club will present an afternoon horror brunch at Shillelagh Tavern in Queens, where the audience will choose the mini marathon of movies.
From New York Times • Feb. 1, 2024
Pyne completed his first 15 throws into the fourth quarter, but he ultimately couldn’t keep up with Williams, and the Irish surrendered the Jeweled Shillelagh in their first trip to the Coliseum since 2018.
From Seattle Times • Nov. 26, 2022
A New Year’s Six bowl could be in play if they retain possession of the Jeweled Shillelagh.
From Seattle Times • Nov. 23, 2022
Sooner than I would like, we are ready and in the car, turning down the lane, going up through Gorey and on, along the narrow roads through Carnew and Shillelagh.
From The New Yorker • Feb. 8, 2010
It Was that which is known in Erse song As the Wood of Shillelagh.
From Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 99, December 20, 1890 by Various
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.
