Welsh nationalistn.adj.
/ˌwɛlʃ ˈnaʃn̩əlɪst/, /ˌwɛlʃ ˈnaʃn̩l̩ɪst/, /ˌwɛlʃ ˈnaʃənl̩ɪst/, /ˌwɛlʃ ˈnaʃ(ə)nəlɪst/, U.S. /ˈˌwɛlʃ ˈnæʃ(ə)nələst/ A. n.
A supporter or advocate of independence or greater political autonomy for Wales; a supporter of Welsh national interests. Also: a member of the Welsh Nationalist Party.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > rule or government > politics > British politics > British party politics > [noun] > nationalist parties > member of
Welsh nationalist1863
Scottish nationalist1928
Scot Nat1929
Nat1958
Scots Nat1968
1863 Liverpool Mercury 17 Sept. 6/3 Such a series of patriotic commonplaces as would make him hero of the hour with an audience of zealous Welsh nationalists.
1891 Dod's Parl. Compan. 1890–91 246 George, David Lloyd... ‘A Welsh Nationalist’, supporting ‘Home Rule’, ‘Temperance’, ‘Disestablishment’, and other items in the programme of the Advanced Liberal Party.
1966 M. Woodhouse Tree Frog xviii. 131 ‘Patriotism dictates,’ he said. ‘Don't give me that,’ I said. ‘I'm a Welsh Nationalist.’
1972 Guardian 19 June 24/8 Welsh Nationalists intend to set up a mobile pirate radio station.
1999 Times 12 May 1/4 The Tories, Liberal Democrats and Welsh Nationalists intend to join forces to defeat the minority Labour administration in Cardiff.
B. adj.
That supports Welsh national interests, often by advocating independence or greater political autonomy for Wales. Also: of or relating to the Welsh Nationalist Party.
ΚΠ
1878 Western Mail (Cardiff) 22 Feb. 2/7 The pertinacity with which some of the Welsh nationalist newspapers assert that Henry Morton Stanley..is a native of the northern part of the principality.
1937 W. H. Jones What is happening in Wales? iii. 9 What makes the Welsh Nationalist movement essentially a literary movement?
1977 Hist. Jrnl. 20 p. i Lloyd George's successive roles as a youthful Welsh Nationalist agitator, [etc.].
2001 B. Walter Outsiders Inside (2002) i. 30 [At the mock election] I wanted to be the Welsh Nationalist candidate but ended up as the Liberal agent.
Compounds
Welsh Nationalist Party (also Welsh Nationalist party) a political party dedicated to representing the interests of the people of Wales, and esp. to seeking greater political autonomy for Wales; (now) spec. = Plaid Cymru n.
ΘΚΠ
society > authority > rule or government > politics > British politics > British party politics > [noun] > nationalist parties
Scottish National Party1846
Scottish nationalist1850
Welsh Nationalist Party1886
Plaid1928
Scottish Nationalist Party1928
S.N.P.1935
Plaid Cymru1949
Mebyon Kernow1962
Mec Vannin1966
1886 North-eastern Daily Gaz. (Middlesbrough) 26 Aug. Such feeble sputterings as this latest cry about a Welsh Nationalist Party.
1888 Daily News 14 Mar. 6/6 The Welsh Nationalist party and working men decline to recognize the candidature of Sir Horace Davey.
1925 North Wales Observer 13 Aug. 5/3 The proposals of the new Welsh Nationalist Party were calmly received..at the Baptist Church, Pwllheli, on Thursday.
1943 E. L. Chappell Wake up, Wales! ix. 89 The Welsh Nationalist Party (Plaid Genedlaethol Cymru)..is carrying on with relentless vigour propaganda on behalf of an advanced type of Nationalism.
2001 R. Keeble Newspapers Handbk. (ed. 3) 166 The Welsh Nationalist Party made a breakthrough at Carmarthen in 1966 and strongly contests seats against Labour in the valleys, West Rhondda and Caerphilly.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2011; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.adj.1863