tuath
1
9.9
A small area long ago in Ireland ruled by a local chief or king
- noun
- Archaic
:
tuath
- In early medieval Ireland, each tuath had its own laws and customs.
Examples
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The boundaries of a tuath were often marked by rivers or forests.
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The ancient tuath was ruled by a local chief.
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A powerful chief could unite several tuatha under his rule.
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In medieval times, each tuath had its own customs.
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In early medieval Ireland, each tuath had its own laws and customs.
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The boundaries of a tuath were often marked by rivers or forests.
-
A powerful chief could unite several tuatha under his rule.
How Big
Surface Forms
Etymology
The word tuath also came to mean the land a tribe ruled, that is a 'territory' or small 'kingdom'. Because a tuath named both the people and their land, it is used for the area ruled by a local chief.