cateran

noun

cat·​er·​an ˈka-tə-rən How to pronounce cateran (audio)
: a former military irregular or brigand of the Scottish Highlands

Word History

Etymology

Middle English (Scots) ketharan, probably from Medieval Latin katheranus, from Scottish Gaelic ceithearn band of fighting men

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cateran was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near cateran

Cite this Entry

“Cateran.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cateran. Accessed 26 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!