Irish

[ahy-rish] /ˈaɪ rɪʃ/
adjective
1.
of, pertaining to, or characteristic of Ireland, its inhabitants, or their language.
noun
2.
the inhabitants of Ireland and their descendants elsewhere.
3.
the aboriginal Celtic-speaking people of Ireland.
4.
Also called Irish Gaelic. the Celtic language of Ireland in its historical or modern form.
Abbreviation: Ir, Ir.
Compare Middle Irish, Old Irish.
5.
Irish English.
6.
Irish whiskey.
Idioms
7.
get one's Irish up, Informal. to become angry or outraged:
Don't go getting your Irish up over a little matter like that.
Origin
1175-1225; Middle English Yrisse, Iris(c)h; compare Old English Īras people of Ireland (cognate with Old Norse Īrar); see -ish1
Related forms
Irishly, adverb
anti-Irish, adjective, noun
half-Irish, adjective
non-Irish, adjective, noun
pre-Irish, adjective
pro-Irish, adjective
pseudo-Irish, adjective
Usage note
See Irish pennant.
British Dictionary definitions for Irish

Irish

/ˈaɪrɪʃ/
adjective
1.
of, relating to, or characteristic of Ireland, its people, their Celtic language, or their dialect of English
2.
(informal, offensive) ludicrous or illogical
noun
3.
(functioning as pl) the Irish, the natives or inhabitants of Ireland
4.
another name for Irish Gaelic
Word Origin and History for Irish

c.1200, Irisce, from stem of Old English Iras "inhabitant of Ireland," from Old Norse irar, ultimately from Old Irish Eriu (accusative Eirinn, Erinn) "Erin," which is from Old Celtic *Iveriu (accusative *Iverionem, ablative *Iverione), perhaps from PIE *pi-wer- "fertile," literally "fat," from root *peie- "to be fat, swell" (see fat (adj.)).

Meaning "temper, passion" is 1834, American English (first attested in writings of Davy Crockett), from the legendary pugnacity of Irish people. Irish-American is from 1832; Irish coffee is from 1950. Wild Irish (late 14c.) originally were those not under English rule; Black Irish in reference to those of Mediterranean appearance is from 1888.

Slang definitions & phrases for Irish

Irish

noun

A white person; Gray, ofay: You call all white people Irish? (1990s+ Black street gangs)

Related Terms

get one's dander up


Idioms and Phrases with Irish

Irish

see: luck of the devil (Irish)