McAlpine's Fusiliers
English
Etymology
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.
Noun
McAlpine's Fusiliers pl (plural only)
- (Ireland, Britain, informal) The Irish immigrant labour force in Britain in the early 20th century.
- 2006, Kevin Noble, Baghdad Trucker, Northern Writers, Durham, page 92
- 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, Northern Writers, Durham, page 92
Usage notes
The term was popularised by the 1960s Dubliners song of the same name.