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shillelagh

noun
shil·​le·​lagh | \ shə-ˈlā-lē How to pronounce shillelagh (audio) \
variants: or less commonly shillalah

Definition of shillelagh

: cudgel
Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about shillelagh

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Synonyms for shillelagh

Synonyms

bastinado (or bastinade), bat, baton, billy, billy club, bludgeon, cane, club, cudgel, nightstick, rod, rung [Scottish], sap, staff, truncheon, waddy [Australian]

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Examples of shillelagh in a Sentence

the bartender in the Irish pub keeps a shillelagh behind the bar just in case there's trouble

Recent Examples on the Web

 McConnell is also giving conservatives a shillelagh with which to beat Republican moderates who fail to go along with repeal, and perhaps even to mount primary challenges against them in 2018 or beyond. — Margaret Hartmann, Daily Intelligencer, "Who’s to Blame for the GOP Health Care Debacle, Trump or McConnell?," 19 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'shillelagh.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of shillelagh

1772, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for shillelagh

Shillelagh, town in Ireland

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More from Merriam-Webster on shillelagh

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with shillelagh

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for shillelagh

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