tanist

[ tan-ist, thaw-nist ]

/ ˈtæn ɪst, ˈθɔ nɪst /

noun History/Historical.

the successor apparent to a Celtic chief, usually the oldest or worthiest of his kin, chosen by election among the tribe during the chief's lifetime.

Nearby words

Origin of tanist

First recorded in 1530–40, tanist is from the Irish word tánaiste second, substitute, heir by election

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for tanist

Bo-aires of this class, to avoid the gavelling of their property, elected a Tanist—the Tanaise Bo-aire.
Ireland under the Tudors, Volume I (of II)|Richard Bagwell
Other monoliths are probably the Tanist Stones, where the new chief or king was elected, and sworn to protect and lead his people.
The Archaeology and Prehistoric Annals of Scotland|Daniel Wilson
This story must have been an after-thought, to account for what we may suppose to have been a prehistoric Tanist stone.
Roman Mosaics|Hugh Macmillan
Very often the sons refused to accept the tanist, and bloody quarrels followed.
Ireland under the Tudors, Volume I (of II)|Richard Bagwell

To avert strife his tanist, or successor, was elected in his lifetime.
Irish History and the Irish Question|Goldwin Smith

British Dictionary definitions for tanist

tanist

/ (ˈtænɪst) /

noun

history the heir apparent of a Celtic chieftain chosen by election during the chief's lifetime: usually the worthiest of his kin

Derived Formstanistry, noun

Word Origin for tanist

C16: from Irish Gaelic tánaiste, literally: the second person

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for tanist

tanist

"elected heir of a Celtic chief," 1530s, from Gaelic tanaiste, literally "parallel, second," from Old Irish tanaise "designated successor," from Celtic *tani-hessio- "one who is waited for."