[The name of the most northerly of the four provinces of Ireland.
The name occurs in ME. (14–15th cent.) as Ulster (also Hulster) and in the fuller form Ulvester (in Sc. also as Ullister, Ulsister, and Ulcister), = AF. (a. 1225) Ulvestre (Hulv-), Anglo-L. (c. 1200) Ulvestera, -tira, -tria, corresponding to ON. Ulfastir, a variant of the more usual Ulaztir, Ulaðstir (also Ulaþscir), the first element of which is the Irish Ulaidh (gen. Uladh), men of Ulster. The origin of the suffix, which also appears in Leinster and Munster (Ir. Gael. Laighean, Mumha), is not clear, but it may represent Ir. tír land.]
1. pl. Ulstermen (forming a regiment). rare.
1649. Cromwell, Lett., 19 Dec. (Carlyle). Being informed that … Lieutenant-general Ferral with his Ulsters was to march out of Waterford,… I ordered Colonel Zanchy … to march … to the relief of our friends. Ibid. The Ulsters … made indeed for the time a good resistance.
2. The king-of-arms for Ireland.
1552. Edward VI., Jrnl., in Lit. Rem. (Roxburghe CI.), II. 395, [February] 2. Ther was a king of armes made for Irland, whose name was Ulster, and his province was al Irland.
1627. Chas. I., in State Papers, Ireland (1900), 223. You shall also see Ulster (who is the Chief Herald) countenanced in a herald’s commission of visitation of various places in Ireland.
1712. Lond. Gaz., No. 4970/2. Coat of his Arms carried by Ulster King of Arms.
1857. Lit. Rem. Edw. VI. (Roxb. Cl.), II. 395, note. The arms given to the office of Ulster were, Argent, St. George’s cross, and on a chief gules a lion between a harp and portcullis, all or.
1880. Encycl. Brit., XI. 688/1. In Ireland also there is but one king-at-arms, Ulster.
3. A long, loose overcoat of frieze or other rough cloth, frequently with a waist-belt.
The ‘Ulster Overcoat’ was introduced by J. G. M’Gee & Co. of Belfast in 1867; the abbreviated name has been in common use from 1879.
1878. H. S. Leigh, Town Garland, 87. When the Ulster descends from its home on the hook, And the warmth-giving wrappers return from the wash.
1879. Miss Braddon, Cloven Foot, xii. 110. Celia running home … with all her wedding finery smothered under a waterproof Ulster.
1888. Rider Haggard, Col. Quaritch, III. xi. 169. He put on a pair of shooting-boots, an old coat, and an ulster.
attrib. 1878. Era Almanack, 35. The ulster epidemic was raging even at this time.
1879. E. O’Donovan, Merv Oasis, xvi. (1883), 174. Over my shoulders was a drenched leopard skin, beneath which could be seen my travel-stained, much-worn ulster overcoat.
1880. Cassell’s Family Mag., 122. The ulster muff is of a rectangular shape.
4. attrib. Used to designate the custom prevalent in Ulster by which a tenant has certain rights of occupancy, disposal, or compensation, in regard to land held by him; usually Ulster tenant-right.
1870. Act 33–34 Victoria, c. 46 § 1. The usages prevalent in the province of Ulster, which are known as, and in this Act intended to be included under, the denomination of the Ulster tenant-right custom, are hereby declared to be legal.
1878. [see TENANT-RIGHT].
1879. H. George, Progr. & Pov., VI. i. (1881), 291. If what is known as the Ulster tenant right were extended to the whole of Great Britain, it would be but to carve out of the estate of the landlord, an estate for the tenant.
1882. M. Arnold, Irish Ess., etc., 28. It has been suggested … by the Ulster custom of compensating them [sc. tenants] for their improvements, and letting them sell the value which by their improvements they had added to the property.
b. Ulsterman, a native or inhabitant of Ulster.
In recent use also Ulsterite. Cf. ULTONIAN.
1845. Carlyle, Cromwell, I. 497. ‘Lieutenant-General Ferral with his Ulsters;’ note, Ulster-men.
1868. (title) Modern Ireland: its Vital Questions, Secret Societies, and Government: by an Ulsterman.
Hence (from sense 3) Ulstered a., wearing an ulster. Ulsterette, a small or light ulster. Ulstering, material suitable for ulsters.
1880. Miss Broughton, Second Thoughts, I. v. 62. A few *ulstered, comfortered men, stamping up and down, waiting for the night mail.
1889. Skrine, Mem. Thring, 201. The group of flannelled and ulstered players.
1887. J. Ashby Sterry, Lazy Minstrel (1892), 171. My smart *ulsterette, e’en a poet might sing, ’Tis white corduroy, with a rose-coloured lining!
1888. Cambridge (Mass.) Tribune, 24 Nov. These ‘Inverness’ overcoats are close-fitting, and when worn without the cape have the appearance of an ulsterette.
1888. Myra’s Jrnl., 1 Nov., 656/1. Patterns of Cloths, Homespuns, and *Ulsterings for ladies’ and children’s jackets and ulsters.
1890. Textile News, 20 June (List Manufacturers), Fancy meltons, ulsterings, costumes, coatings, &c.
