brehon

English

Etymology

From an Anglicized oblique form (such as genitive singular breitheamhan or dative singular breitheamhain) of Irish breitheamh, from Old Irish brithem, from breth (“judgment”).

Noun

brehon (plural brehons)

  1. (Ireland, historical) A judge or lawgiver in ancient Celtic Ireland.
    • 1999, Seamus Heaney, Beowulf, London: Faber and Faber, page 48:
      [T]he brehon handed him a hilted weapon,
      a rare and ancient sword named Hrunting.

Derived terms

  • Brehon laws

Anagrams

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