Orange Volunteers

9.9

A Protestant armed group in Northern Ireland known for attacks on Catholic people and opposition to peace talks

noun

NSFW

: Voluntarios de Orange

The Orange Volunteers claimed responsibility for several attacks in the early 2000s.

Examples

Authorities monitored the activities of the Orange Volunteers due to their involvement in sectarian violence.
Many community leaders condemned the actions taken by the Orange Volunteers during the unrest.
The Orange Volunteers were involved in several controversial incidents.
Many people criticize the actions of the Orange Volunteers during the conflict.
Authorities monitored the activities of the Orange Volunteers due to their involvement in sectarian violence.
Many community leaders condemned the actions taken by the Orange Volunteers during the unrest.
The Orange Volunteers claimed responsibility for several attacks in the early 2000s.

Synonyms

Orange Group

vsOrange Volunteers

Offensive

9.9

An armed Protestant group in Northern Ireland that attacks Catholics and their property

refers specifically to that group active mainly in recent decades

Surface Forms

Orange Volunteers singular

Orange Volunteers plural

Morphology

Orange + volunteer

This is a proper-name for a specific Protestant paramilitary organization whose meaning depends on historical and political knowledge (Orangeism/William of Orange) rather than the literal senses of 'orange' and 'volunteer'. A B1 learner who knows 'orange' as a color/fruit and 'volunteer' as someone who offers services would not predict the group's violent, political nature, so the expression is non-compositional for learners.

Etymology

Orange Volunteers comes from Orange, a name used by Protestants who honour William of Orange, and Volunteers, meaning people who join to fight. So the name signals a local 'Protestant' 'armed group', which is why it refers to that paramilitary group today.