Partly from both of the following:
* from Old Irish Féni (“originally the legendary people who inhabited Ireland; later the Irish people generally, especially those belonging to the social class of free citizens”, plural); further etymology uncertain, possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *weǵʰ- (“to bring; to transport”) (whence wagon and wain; referring to the use of chariots); and
* from Irish fian, fiann (“roving band of (legendary) warrior-hunters”) (generally a view taken by English-speaking scholars, possibly due to the similarity between Old Irish Féni and Irish féine, féinne, the genitive singular forms of fian and fiann), from Old Irish fían, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *weyh₁- (“to chase, pursue”);
+ English -ian (suffix forming adjectives with the sense ‘from; related to’; and forming nouns with the sense ‘one from or related to’). The adjective is attested slightly earlier than the noun.
Meanings
(Ireland, historical, not-comparable) Of or relating to roving bands of hunter-warriors in ancient Ireland, especially the band led by the hero Fionn mac Cumhaill in Irish mythology; (generally) of or relating to the people of ancient Ireland.
(Ireland, UK, also, historical, not-comparable) Of or relating to organizations opposing British rule in Ireland, especially the Fenian Brotherhood and Irish Republican Brotherhood which were active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
(Northern-Ireland, Scotland, derogatory, not-comparable, offensive) Of or relating to a Roman Catholic, chiefly one of Irish descent or ethnicity.
(Northern-Ireland, Scotland, derogatory, not-comparable, offensive) Of or relating to the Scottish association football club Celtic Football Club.
fi Celticiin liittyvä (of or relating to the Scottish association football club Celtic Football Club) · fi feeniläinen (of or relating to organizations opposing British rule in Ireland) · fi feeniläinen (of or relating to roving bands of hunter-warriors in ancient Ireland) · fi feeniläinen (of or relating to the people of ancient Ireland) · ca fenià (of or relating to organizations opposing British rule in Ireland)
Partly from both of the following:
* from Old Irish Féni (“originally the legendary people who inhabited Ireland; later the Irish people generally, especially those belonging to the social class of free citizens”, plural); further etymology uncertain, possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *weǵʰ- (“to bring; to transport”) (whence wagon and wain; referring to the use of chariots); and
* from Irish fian, fiann (“roving band of (legendary) warrior-hunters”) (generally a view taken by English-speaking scholars, possibly due to the similarity between Old Irish Féni and Irish féine, féinne, the genitive singular forms of fian and fiann), from Old Irish fían, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *weyh₁- (“to chase, pursue”);
+ English -ian (suffix forming adjectives with the sense ‘from; related to’; and forming nouns with the sense ‘one from or related to’). The adjective is attested slightly earlier than the noun.
Meanings
(Ireland, historical, in-plural) A member of a roving band of hunter-warriors in ancient Ireland, especially the band led by the hero Fionn mac Cumhaill in Irish mythology; (generally) a person of ancient Ireland.
Do you compare your psalms / To the tales of the bare-arm'd Fenians? 1816, [Walter Scott], chapter I, in The Antiquary. […], volume III, Edinburgh: […] James Ballantyne and Co. for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, →OCLC, page 26:
(Ireland, UK, also, historical) A member of an organization opposing British rule in Ireland, especially the Fenian Brotherhood and Irish Republican Brotherhood which were active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries; (generally) an Irish nationalist or republican.
(Northern-Ireland, Scotland, derogatory, offensive) A Roman Catholic person, chiefly one of Irish descent or ethnicity.
It was sound advice for anyone visiting Northern Ireland in 1999 and remains so today: do not refer to Protestants as "Prods", or to Catholics as "Fenians" or "Taigs", and whatever you do don't refer to your visit as "being out here". [2023 August 23, Rory Carroll, “Files reveal terms ministers were warned not to use in Northern Ireland”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 26 May 2025:
(Northern-Ireland, Scotland, derogatory, offensive) A supporter of the Scottish association football club Celtic Football Club.
ga Fínín (Irish nationalist or republican) · es feniana (member of an organization opposing British rule in Ireland, especially the Fenian Brotherhood or Irish Republican Brotherhood) · ca feniana (member of an organization opposing British rule in Ireland, especially the Fenian Brotherhood or Irish Republican Brotherhood) · ro fenian (member of an organization opposing British rule in Ireland, especially the Fenian Brotherhood or Irish Republican Brotherhood) · fi feeniläinen (Irish nationalist or republican) · fi Celticin kannattaja (supporter of the Scottish association football club Celtic Football Club) · cy Ffeniad (member of an organization opposing British rule in Ireland, especially the Fenian Brotherhood or Irish Republican Brotherhood) · fi feeniläinen (member of an organization opposing British rule in Ireland, especially the Fenian Brotherhood or Irish Republican Brotherhood) · ca fenià (member of an organization opposing British rule in Ireland, especially the Fenian Brotherhood or Irish Republican Brotherhood) · fi feeniläinen (member of a roving band of hunter-warriors in ancient Ireland) · fr fenian (member of an organization opposing British rule in Ireland, especially the Fenian Brotherhood or Irish Republican Brotherhood) · fi feeniläinen (person of ancient Ireland) · fr Fenian (member of an organization opposing British rule in Ireland, especially the Fenian Brotherhood or Irish Republican Brotherhood) · ga Fínín (member of an organization opposing British rule in Ireland, especially the Fenian Brotherhood or Irish Republican Brotherhood) · gv feniagh (member of an organization opposing British rule in Ireland, especially the Fenian Brotherhood or Irish Republican Brotherhood) · es feniano (member of an organization opposing British rule in Ireland, especially the Fenian Brotherhood or Irish Republican Brotherhood)