A heavily armed foot soldier or mercenary, especially one of Irish or Scottish origin who served in the 13th-17th centuries.
From Irish gallóglaich (from gall meaning 'foreigner' or 'Norseman' and óglach meaning 'warrior'), referring to soldiers of Viking or foreign descent who became professional warriors.
Gallowglasses were so fearsome that Irish chieftains fought over who could hire them—they wore armor that made them nearly invulnerable, wielded massive axes, and their reputation for brutality was so famous that just hiring one was a political power move.
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