brehon

noun

bre·​hon
ˈbrēˌhän,
biˈrehu̇v
plural -s
: one of a class of lawyers in ancient Ireland with power to serve as jurist and referee but without power to enforce decisions

Word History

Etymology

Irish Gaelic breitheamh judge, from Old Irish brithem, from breth act of bearing, judgment; akin to Old Irish biru I bear, Old English beran to bear

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near brehon

Cite this Entry

“Brehon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brehon. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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