tanist

[ tan-ist, thaw-nist ]

nounHistory/Historical.
  1. 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.

Origin of tanist

1
First recorded in 1530–40, tanist is from the Irish word tánaiste second, substitute, heir by election

Words Nearby tanist

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use tanist in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for tanist

tanist

/ (ˈtænɪst) /


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

Origin of tanist

1
C16: from Irish Gaelic tánaiste, literally: the second person

Derived forms of tanist

  • tanistry, noun

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