cateran

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English

Etymology

From (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Scottish Gaelic ceatharn (“troop”), ceathairne (“peasantry, yeomanry”).

Pronunciation

  • Lua error in Module:parameters at line 333: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "UK" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /ˈkatəɹən/

Noun

cateran (plural caterans)

  1. (historical) A Highlander working as a professional fighter; a mercenary attached to a Scottish clan.
    • 1932, Lewis Grassic Gibbon, Sunset Song:
      And the great-grandson of Cospatric, he joined the English against the cateran Wallace […].
    • 2009, John Sadler, Glencoe, Amberley 2009, p. 41:
      They found the hire of lawyers more cost-effective than the maintenance of caterans.
  2. A freebooter, marauder.

Translations

Anagrams

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