Gallybeggar

/ˈɡæliˌbɛɡər/ noun

Definition

A vagrant or wandering beggar; someone who travels about asking for alms.

Etymology

From Irish and Scottish dialectal 'gally-' (possibly from 'gallus' meaning bold or mischievous) plus 'beggar'; describing a particular type of itinerant poor person.

Kelly Says

In medieval Ireland, different types of beggars had specific names—'gallybeggar' distinguished a particular class of wanderers, showing how detailed folk classification systems were before modern bureaucracy took over.

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