Galloglass

/ˈɡæl.oʊ.ɡlæs/ noun

Definition

A heavily armed Irish or Scottish mercenary soldier, typically from the 13th to 17th centuries, who served as a professional warrior for Irish clans.

Etymology

From Irish 'galloglach,' from 'gall' (foreign) and 'oglach' (soldier). These warriors originated in the Scottish Hebrides and became elite fighters in Ireland, creating a distinct military class.

Kelly Says

Galloglasses were basically the special forces units of medieval Ireland—these brutally trained Hebridean soldiers were so feared that Irish chiefs competed to hire them, shaping Irish warfare for centuries.

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