Black and Tan

Black and Tan
1. Usually, Black and Tans. an armed force of about 6000 soldiers sent by the British government to Ireland in June, 1920, to suppress revolutionary activity: so called from the colors of their uniform.
2. a member of this force.
3. (l.c.) a drink made of equal parts of ale and stout or porter.
4. (l.c.) a black-and-tan dog.
[1880-85 for def. 4]

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Member of a British auxiliary force employed in Ireland against the republicans (1920–21).

When Irish nationalist agitation intensified after World War I, many Irish police resigned and were replaced by these temporary English recruits, who dressed in a mixed "black and tan" outfit because of a shortage of uniforms. In their efforts to thwart the terrorism of the Irish Republican Army, the Black and Tans themselves engaged in brutal reprisals.

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▪ British police
      member of a British auxiliary police force employed in Ireland against the republicans from July 1920 to July 1921. Their popular name derived from the name of a variety of hunting dogs, applied to the police because of their attire of khaki coats, black belts, and dark green trousers and caps. When Irish nationalist agitation intensified after World War I, a large proportion of the Irish police resigned, to be replaced by these temporary English recruits, mostly jobless former soldiers, who were paid 10 shillings a day and dressed in a mixed “black and tan” outfit because of the shortage of police uniforms. In seeking to thwart the terrorism of the Irish Republican Army, the Black and Tans themselves engaged in fierce reprisals. Notably, on “Bloody Sunday,” November 21, 1920, the IRA murdered 11 Englishmen suspected of being intelligence agents; and the Black and Tans took revenge the same afternoon, attacking spectators at a Gaelic football match in Croke Park, Dublin, killing 12 and wounding 60. The Black and Tans were withdrawn after the Anglo-Irish Treaty of December 1921.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Black and tan — Black Black (bl[a^]k), a. [OE. blak, AS. bl[ae]c; akin to Icel. blakkr dark, swarthy, Sw. bl[ a]ck ink, Dan. bl[ae]k, OHG. blach, LG. & D. blaken to burn with a black smoke. Not akin to AS. bl[=a]c, E. bleak pallid. [root]98.] 1. Destitute of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Black and tan — Tan Tan, a. Of the color of tan; yellowish brown. [1913 Webster] {Black and tan}. See under {Black}, a. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • black-and-tan — black′ and tan′ adj. dch (of a dog) being of a black color with tan markings above the eyes and on the muzzle, chest, legs, feet, and breech • Etymology: 1855–60 …   From formal English to slang

  • Black and Tan — n. [so named from wearing black caps and khaki coats, and in allusion to a famous pack of hounds in LIMERICK, where first stationed] a member of the British troops sent to Ireland to help put down disturbances during the Sinn Fein rebellion (1919 …   English World dictionary

  • Black and Tan — Black′ and Tan′ n. pl. Black and Tans. gov a member of an armed force sent by the British government to Ireland in 1920 to suppress revolutionary activity: so called from the color of their uniforms …   From formal English to slang

  • Black and Tan — noun an English recruit (who wore a uniform that was black and tan) serving in the Irish constabulary to suppress the Sinn Fein rebellion of 1919 to 1921 • Hypernyms: ↑recruit, ↑military recruit * * * I. noun Etymology: black and tan 1. often… …   Useful english dictionary

  • black-and-tan — adjective having a pattern of black and tan • Similar to: ↑patterned * * * | ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷ adjective 1. of a dog s coat : having a dominant color pattern that occurs typically in the dachshund, doberman, bloodhound, Manchester terrier …   Useful english dictionary

  • black-and-tan — /blak euhn tan /, adj. 1. (of a dog) of a black color with tan markings above the eyes and on the muzzle, chest, legs, feet, and breech. 2. Informal. composed of or frequented by both blacks and whites: a black and tan musical revue of the 1920s …   Universalium

  • black-and-tan — adjective Date: 1850 1. having a predominantly black color pattern with deep red or rusty tan usually on the feet, breeching, and cheek patches, above the eyes, and inside the ears 2. favoring or practicing proportional representation of whites… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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