Definition of fenian Fenian

/fiˈniʌn/ - [feeneeun] - Fe•ni•an

We found 8 definitions of fenian from 4 different sources.

What does fenian mean?

fenian (Noun)
An Irish nationalist or republican.
fenian (Noun)
A member of the Fenian Brotherhood or the Republican Irish Republican Brotherhood , Irish republican organizations active in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
fenian (Noun)
A Catholic Catholic , especially one of Irish ethnicity or descent.
fenian (Noun)
A supporter of Scottish association football club Celtic F. C. .

fenian (n.)
A member of a secret organization, consisting mainly of Irishment, having for its aim the overthrow of English rule in ireland.
fenian (a.)
Pertaining to Fenians or to Fenianism.

fenian
fē′ne-an, n. a member of an association of Irishmen founded in New York in 1857 for the overthrow of the English government in Ireland.—adj. belonging to the legendary Fenians, or to the modern conspirators.—n. Fē′nianism. [Old Ir. Féne, one of the names of the ancient population of Ireland, confused in modern times with fíann, the militia of Finn and other ancient Irish kings.]

fenian
A name formerly applied among the Celts to bodies of troops somewhat similar to our modern militia. They derived their name from Finn McCumhail, a famous Celtic chief. In modern times the name was assumed by an association formed for the liberation of Ireland, whose principal headquarters was in the United States, but ramifications of which extended through Great Britain, Ireland, and the colonies. In 1866 the Fenians attempted to invade Canada, and succeeded in crossing the frontier; but they were soon dispersed, and their leaders arrested by the U. S. authorities for violation of the neutrality laws. In 1867 there were several demonstrations made by them in England and Ireland, but their leaders were promptly arrested, and after some were executed, and others sentenced to long terms of imprisonment, the movement was crushed.

fenian in sign language