galloglass

or gal·low·glass

[ gal-oh-glas, -glahs ]

noun

, Irish History.

1. a follower and supporter of or a soldier owing allegiance to an Irish chief.

galloglass

/ ˈɡæləʊˌɡlɑːs /

noun

1. a heavily armed mercenary soldier, originally Hebridean (Gaelic-Norse), maintained by Irish and some other Celtic chiefs from about 1235 to the 16th century

Word History and Origins

Origin of galloglass¹

1505–15; < Irish gallóglách, equivalent to gall a stranger, foreigner + óglach a youth, soldier, servant, derivative of Old Irish óac, óc young

Word History and Origins

Origin of galloglass¹

C16: from Irish Gaelic gallóglach, from gall foreigner + óglach, young warrior-servant, from og young + -lach a noun suffix

Example Sentences

The two divisions of the Irish infantry were the galloglass, or heavily armed foot soldier, called gall, either as a mercenary, or from having been equipped after the Norman method, and the kerne, or light infantry.

From Project Gutenberg

The two divisions of the Irish infantry were the galloglass, or heavily armed foot soldier, called gall, either as a mercenary, or from having been equipped after the Norman method, and the kerne, or light infantry.

From Project Gutenberg