Ulster

[uhl-ster]

noun

1. a former province in Ireland, now comprising Northern Ireland and a part of the Republic of Ireland.

2. a province in N Republic of Ireland. 3,123 sq. mi. (8,090 sq. km).

3. Informal.,  Northern Ireland.

4. (lowercase),  a long, loose, heavy overcoat, originally of Irish frieze, now also of any of various other woolen cloths.

ulster

¹

/ ˈʌlstə /

noun

1. a man's heavy double-breasted overcoat with a belt or half-belt at the back

Ulster

²

/ ˈʌlstə /

noun

1. a province and former kingdom of N Ireland: passed to the English Crown in 1461; confiscated land given to English and Scottish Protestant settlers in the 17th century, giving rise to serious long-term conflict; partitioned in 1921, six counties forming Northern Ireland and three counties joining the Republic of Ireland. Pop (three Ulster counties of the Republic of Ireland): 46 714 (2002); (six Ulster counties of Northern Ireland): 1 702 628 (2003 est). Area (Republic of Ireland): 8013 sq km (3094 sq miles); (Northern Ireland): 14 121 sq km (5452 sq miles)

2. an informal name for Northern Ireland

Ulster

1. A historic division of Ireland, located in the northeastern part of the island. Six of its nine counties are in Northern Ireland. (See Republic of Ireland.)

Other Word Forms

• Ulsterite noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of ulster¹

C19: so called because it was first produced in Northern Ireland

Example Sentences

Related, but with a shorter cape: the Ulster coat, from Ireland and familiar to those who read Victorian novels, in which people are perpetually donning old ulsters.

From Seattle Times

It was Gatsby's father, a solemn old man very helpless and dismayed, bundled up in a long cheap ulster against the warm September day.

From Literature

Tinkler explains that he is fully dressed, opening his ulster and disclosing an elaborate toilet: unfortunate--have to apologise.

From Project Gutenberg

She had on a long dark ulster and a black scarf round her head.

From Project Gutenberg

But a white ulster and a red guide book are magic pipes of Hamelin to lure every idle child in Zamora.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cloak 
• frock 
• jacket 
• overcoat 
• raincoat 
• suit 
• tuxedo 
• windbreaker 
• wrap