shillelagh

or shil·la·la, shil·la·lah, shil·le·lah

[ shuh-ley-lee, -luh ]

noun

1. a cudgel, traditionally of blackthorn or oak.

shillelagh

/ -lɪ; ʃɪˈleːlə; ʃəˈleɪlə /

noun

1. (in Ireland) a stout club or cudgel, esp one made of oak or blackthorn

Word History and Origins

Origin of shillelagh¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of shillelagh¹

C18: from Irish Gaelic sail cudgel + éille leash, thong

Example Sentences

There are fleas and chamber pots and thumbed noses and a St. Patrick’s Day picnic that — hold on to your shillelagh! — devolves into a drunken brawl.

From New York Times

He celebrated the nearly perfect performance by putting his hands on a shillelagh.

From Seattle Times

He celebrated the nearly perfect performance by putting his hands on a shillelagh.

From Washington Times

The past month I’ve been staring down the shillelagh of an actual, real holiday.

From Washington Post

Dan Donovan began trying to chase the three men from their house, and that’s when he grabbed his grandfather’s shillelagh - an antique Irish walking stick propped in the corner of the couple’s dining room.

From Washington Times

Related Words

• nightstick
• truncheon