[Manx, also written quaaltagh, f. quaail (= Ir. and Gael. comhdháil) meeting.] The first person one meets after leaving home on some special occasion; also, the first person entering a house on New Year’s Day, the first-foot.
1891. Moore, Folk-lore Isle of Man, 103. It was considered fortunate if the qualtagh were a person … of dark complexion.
1894. Hall Caine, Manxman, 59. I should be the first-foot here, only I’m no use as a qualtagh.
