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Orangeman

Orangeman

1 9.9
A person in an Irish Protestant group who supports loyalty to the British crown
  • noun
  • /ˈɔrɪndʒmən/
  • UK
translation icon : orangista
  • An Orangeman proudly wore his orange sash during the annual parade celebrating Protestant culture.

Examples

  • Many people in Northern Ireland identify as an Orangeman, celebrating their heritage with various events throughout the year.

  • You could slip into it on St. Patrick's Day and march up Fifth Avenue, and no one would mistake you for an Orangeman.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • "Being Irish might be compatible with writing serious Irish history," he said; "but to be 'a Fenian or an Orangeman' -- that is, an ultranationalist -- 'is not so compatible, any more than being a Zionist is compatible with writing a genuinely serious history of the Jews, unless the historian leaves his or her convictions behind when entering the library or the study.'

    Blog text (18)
  • As a lifelong Orangeman, he attended every march to support his community's values and traditions.

Surface Forms

Orangeman singular
Orangemen plural

Morphology

Orangeman = Orange + man (semi-transparent) = Orange + man

Formally a compound of the proper name 'Orange' and 'man', but the specific socio-historical meaning (member of the Orange Order) requires cultural knowledge beyond simple composition.

Etymology

Orangeman comes from the name Orange, which refers to William of Orange, a Protestant leader who supported the British crown. People who joined a society in his name were called 'Orangemen', so an Orangeman today is a member of that Protestant society.