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DictionaryshillelaghIrish wooden club
noun

shillelagh

shuh-LAY-lee/ʃəˈleɪli/

A stout Irish wooden stick used as a club or walking stick.

The shillelagh has a stout wooden shaft and a prominent knobbed head.

A single traditional Irish shillelagh: a stout, dark wooden walking stick with a prominent natural knob head, irregular grain and trimmed branch knots, shown fully in an uncluttered object study.
Etymology
shillIrishseed, descendants
+elaghIrishElach (a name)

“Seeds or descendants of Elach” names the Irish place Shillelagh, famous for its oaks. The place-name first denoted oak wood used for cudgels, then the stick or club itself.

In context

Old Time Radio Researchers22:06
I still have me father's shillelagh Alberta watches your Swedish accent
Jack Benny - JB 1946-10-13 Jack And Mary Walk To The Studio

More examples

  • The antique shop displays a shillelagh with a thick, knotted head.
  • He raises his shillelagh to defend himself.
  • His grandfather's shillelagh hangs beside the door.

Forms

shillelagh · shillelaghs

Similar words

cudgel
Any short, heavy stick used as a weapon, not specifically Irish.
club
A broader weapon term that also includes nonwooden striking implements.