Caledonian

comparative more Caledonian · superlative most Caledonian

1. In or from Caledonia; (jocularly) Scottish.
2. In or from New Caledonia.
3. geographyRelating to a mountain-forming period (orogeny) in Europe.

plural Caledonians

1. A native or inhabitant of Caledonia; a Scot.

   I congratulate the Caledonians on the acquiſition of this new Saint, but wonder if the German crows were ſo civil to refrain from ſo ſavoury a Scotch haggiſs.

   1717 January 16 (Old Style), Lady Mary W. Montague [i.e. Lady Mary Wortley Montagu], “Original Letter of Lady Mary W. Montague, Never before Published. Found Lately amongst the Papers of a Lady Deceased.”, in The Scots Magazine; or General Repository of Literature, History, and Politics, volume LXI (volume VI, New Series), Edinburgh: [Printed by Alex[ander] Chapman and Co.] Sold by James Watson, No. 40. South Bridge, and by the principal booksellers in Town and Country and by T. Kay, Strand, London, published February 1799, →OCLC, pages 101–102

   2 more examples

   In the early 1770s the bogey figure for opposition politicians was arguably not so much North in the Commons as Mansfield behind the curtain, the country's greatest lawyer (and another Caledonian to gratify the Scotophobes) keeping an irresolute Cabinet committed to waging war in America.

   2004, Barry Coward, Conspiracies and Conspiracy Theory in Early Modern Europe: From the Waldensians to the French Revolution

   In front a staff sergeant with the new Royal Caledonians was gassing about Scullion and the regiment. 'And this major's a total fucking mentalist,' he said. 'What's mental about him?' asked the lance corporal beside him.

   2015, Andrew O'Hagan, The Illuminations, →ISBN, page 39

2. Someone from the ancient Celtic tribe (or group of tribes) called Caledonians, in Scotland