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)

1. (Ireland, UK, informal) The Irish immigrant labour force in Britain in the early 20th century.
   • 2006, Kevin Noble, Baghdad Trucker, Durham: Northern Writers, 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.

Usage notes

• The term was popularized by the 1960s Dubliners song of the same name.