cateran

[ kat-er-uhn ]

noun

1. (formerly) a freebooter or marauder of the Scottish Highlands.

cateran

/ ˈkætərən /

noun

1. (formerly) a member of a band of brigands and marauders in the Scottish highlands

Word History and Origins

Origin of cateran¹

1325–75; < Medieval Latin caterānus, Latinized form of Middle English ( Scots ) catherein < Scots Gaelic ceatharn; kern ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of cateran¹

C14: probably from Scottish Gaelic ceathairneach robber, plunderer

Example Sentences

Taking to the stage after a short opening blast by Scottish support band The Cateran, Nirvana's ferocious power quickly won him over.

From BBC

While these terms were under concession,228 and the Spanish merchants were chaffering with the sailors, as a lowland farmer might have done with a highland cateran, a party of well-inclined Flibustiers, unwilling to waste their time, rowed on shore, and stripped the great church of its pictures, images, carvings, clocks, and bells, even to the very cross on its steeple, piously desiring to erect a chapel at Tortuga, where there was much need of spiritual instruction.

From Project Gutenberg

Wulf laughed, but found him surprising, as the cateran spirit of his forebears came uppermost with this tremendous opportunity.

From Project Gutenberg

At bottom this man was just a wild Highland cateran with a dash of Spanish buccaneer, hot-blooded, avid of gain under circumstances so propitious, insatiable.

From Project Gutenberg

Cateran, kat′er-an, n. a Highland reiver or freebooter, a robber or brigand generally.

From Project Gutenberg