Irish

[ahy-rish]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Ireland, its inhabitants, or their language.

noun

1. the inhabitants of Ireland and their descendants elsewhere.

2. the aboriginal Celtic-speaking people of Ireland.

3. Also called Irish Gaelic. the Celtic language of Ireland in its historical or modern form. Ir, Ir.

4. Irish English.

5. Irish whiskey.

Irish

/ ˈaɪrɪʃ /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Ireland, its people, their Celtic language, or their dialect of English

2. informal,  ludicrous or illogical

noun

1. (functioning as plural) the natives or inhabitants of Ireland

2. another name for Irish Gaelic

Sensitive Note

See Irish pennant.

Other Word Forms

• Irishly adverb
• anti-Irish adjective
• half-Irish adjective
• non-Irish adjective
• pre-Irish adjective
• pro-Irish adjective
• pseudo-Irish adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Irish¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English Yrisse, Iris(c)h; compare Old English Īras people of Ireland (cognate with Old Norse Īrar ); -ish ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. get one's Irish up, to become angry or outraged.

   Don't go getting your Irish up over a little matter like that.

see luck of the devil (Irish).

Example Sentences

The Irish comedy writer, who also created The IT Crowd and Black Books, has pleaded not guilty to the two charges.

From BBC

The Irish actor stars as an idealistic editor in chief of a Midwest newspaper that he’s trying to revive with the help of his ragtag staff.

From Los Angeles Times

The Irish comedian also faces a charge of harassment related to a separate incident.

From BBC

Baroness Gray, the daughter of Irish immigrants in 1950s Tottenham, grew up with a salesman father and a barmaid mother.

From BBC

Bloom's new film The Cut is in UK and Irish cinemas from 5 September.

From BBC