McAlpine's Fusiliers

noun

The Irish immigrant labour force in Britain in the early 20th century.

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Meanings

nounMcAlpine's Fusiliers pl (plural only)
  1. IrelandUKinformalpluralplural onlyThe Irish immigrant labour force in Britain in the early 20th century.

    He'd left his homeland at fifteen, seeking his fortune on the motorways of Britain with McAlpine's Fusiliers before migrating to Sydney.

    2006, Kevin Noble, Baghdad Trucker, Durham: Northern Writers, page 92

Origin

After Sir Robert McAlpine, a major employer of Irish workmen, and (possibly) the military appearance of a group of men with shovels over their shoulders.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

McAlpine's Fusiliers. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/McAlpine's%20Fusiliers

MLA

“McAlpine's Fusiliers.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/McAlpine's%20Fusiliers. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “McAlpine's Fusiliers,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/McAlpine's%20Fusiliers.

Source: McAlpine's Fusiliers on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.