Tory

Meanings

Noun

• A member or supporter of the Conservative Party, which evolved from Royalist politicians; historically associated with upholding the rights of the monarchy and the privileges of the established Church.
• One who is like a British Tory; someone politically conservative.
• A member or supporter of the Conservative Party of Canada, one of that party's predecessors, or an affiliated provincial political party.
• A member of the political factions that sought to prevent the exclusion of James, Duke of York from the throne of England in the 17th century.
• An Irish rebel fighting against English rule at the end of the Confederate War and Cromwellian invasion; later extended to other rebels or bandits.
• A loyal British subject.
• A Union sympathizer.

Adjective

• Of or belonging to the Tory Party or the Conservative Party.
• Of or belonging to the Conservative Party of Canada, one of that party's predecessors, or an affiliated provincial political party.

Proper Noun

• A female given name
• A male given name
• An island off the northwest coast of County Donegal in Ulster, Ireland.

Related

Similar words

• conservative, small-c conservative
• Conservative, Progressive Conservative, PC, P.C.
• loyalist, Loyalist, United Empire Loyalist

Origin

• From Irish tóraí, from tóir. The first recorded use in English is from a 1646 letter by James Butler ("Earl of Ormond") to a Colonel O' Brien, describing bandits and thieves on main roadways.