Rapparees

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A group of Irish bandits or guerrilla fighters known for resisting British rule during the 17th century
2. Individuals who engaged in irregular warfare in Ireland, often seen as rebels or outlaws against English authority
3. Members of a historical faction in Ireland characterized by their involvement in armed resistance and raids against British military forces

Etymology: The Irish "rapaire" (also "ropaire") originally meant "cutpurse", a plain thief who lifted purses rather than a soldier. The word that English borrowed for Irish irregulars therefore began as a term for a pickpocket, and it still carries that sense of an opportunist who lives by taking what is not his. The plural "rapparees" is the form the English used for the men themselves. It is the plural of "rapparee", and the singular names one such fighter. The word moved from petty crime to political violence as the men it described took up arms, which is the step that gave it the meaning it has today.