tanist Hear it!

tanist definition

tan·ist (tan′ist, t̸hôn′-)

noun

in early Ireland, the elected heir of a living Celtic chief in a system limiting the choice to the chief's kin

Etymology: Ir & Gael tānaiste, next heir, hence lord of a country, lit., second, parallel < OIr tān, estate

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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