colloq. Obs. or arch. Also 7 teg, 8 teigue. [Anglicized spelling of the Irish name Tadhg, variously pronounced, fancifully identified with Thaddeus and its familiar form Thady.] A nickname for an Irishman.
[1583. in Dillwyn, Contrib. Hist. Swansea (1840), 18. William Tege and Daniell John, Irishmen, made suet to be admytted Fremen.]
1661. Merry Drollery, II. 143. Let not poor Teg and Shone Vender from der houses.
1682. New News fr. Bedlam, 3. Those Sham Intrigues, From French, from English, and from Irish Teagues.
1689. in Harl. Misc. (1746), VIII. 603/1. Irish Frize … to rig a whole Regiment of his new-raised Teagues.
c. 1720. Prior, On Person who wrote ill. His case appears to me like honest Teague’s, When he was run away with, by his legs.
1727. Swift, Market-hill Thorn, Wks. 1755, IV. I. 90. Pigs and fanaticks, cows and teagues … To tear thy hedges join in leagues.
1865. Lowell, Pr. Wks. (1890), II. 20. If we took warning by the example of Teague and Taffy.
1899. H. C. Hart, in Phil. Soc. Trans., 8. Jeremiah has Irish equivalent Diarmid or Darby;… Theophilus, Teddy; Thaddeus, Thady.… The last two are from Irish Tadhg or Teig or Thady, a poet, which gives rise also to Teague, a name not now in use, but formerly a sobriquet (like the modern Paddy) for an Irishman.
1900. S. J. Weyman, Sophia, i. A raw-boned, uncouth Teague.
Hence † Teaguism, the characteristics of a Teague or Irishman; † Teagueland, Ireland; † Teaguelander, an Irishman. Obs.
1689. Answ. Lords & Commoners Sp., 27. Not to mention those Teague Land Sparks put over them. Ibid., 28. The Teague-Landers and others like them.
a. 1700. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, Teague-land, Ireland. Teague-landers, Irishmen.
1710–1. Swift, Jrnl. to Stella, 30 March. Sir Thomas Mansel … saw Patrick, and swore he was a Teaguelander.
1732. Sir C. Wogan, Lett. to Swift, 27 Feb. The English writers take the hints from them [Irish] … and delight in gratifying the flattest nonsense … upon teigueism.
