Forms: 6 ketheri(n)ck, ketharin, catherein, 8 kettrin, (kaitrine), 9 catheran, katheran, cateran. [Lowland Sc. catherein, kettrin, appears to represent Gael. ceathairne collective ‘peasantry,’ whence ceathairneach ‘sturdy fellow, freebooter’ (McAlpine); Cormac has Ir. ceithern, which O’Donovan renders ‘band of soldiers,’ thence ceithernach ‘one of a band.’
The th has long been mute in Celtic, and the Ir. ceithern (ke·ərn) is phonetically represented by Eng. KERN. It is not easy to account for the preservation of the dental in Lowland Sc., unless perh. through the intermediation of med.L. as in Bower’s cateranos. (Stokes refers. ceithern to OIr. *keitern, OCelt. keterna, a fem. ā-stem.)]
1. † a. prop. a collective sb. Common people of the Highlands in a troop or band, fighting men (obs.). Hence, b. One of a Highland band; a Highland irregular fighting man, reiver or marauder.
1371–90. Stat. 12 Robt. II. (Jam.). Of Ketharines or Sorneris. They quha travells as ketharans … etand the cuntrie and … takand their gudis be force and violence.
[c.1430. Bower, Contn. Fordun, an. 1396 (Jam.). Þer duos pestiferos cateranos et eorum sequaces.]
c. 1505. Dunbar, Sir T. Norray, 13. Full many catherein hes he cheist … Amang thai dully glennis.
15[?]. Scot. Field, in Furniv., Percy Folio, I. 219. There came at his commandement: ketherinckes full many from Orkney that Ile.
1768. Ross, Helenore, 120 (Jam.). Ask yon highland kettrin what they mean.
1816. Scott, Old Mort., vi. Grahame of Montrose, and his Highland caterans.
1832. Blackw. Mag., 65/2. These overgrown proprietors with their armies of catherans.
1887. Dk. Argyll, Scotl. as it Was, II. 6. Plundering Caterans always ready to flock to those who promised booty.
2. gen. Brigand, freebooter, marauder.
1870. Lowell, Study Wind., 216. The statecraft of an Ithacan cateran.
1880. Mrq. Salisbury, in Manch. Guard., 27 Oct., 5/6. They [the Montenegrins] are caterans, cattle lifters.
