See Also: tanist(dictionary)

tanist (iou)



tanist noun. M16.
[Irish, Gaelic tanaiste lit. 'second in excellence, second in rank'. Cf. TANAISTE.]
Hist. The heir apparent to a Celtic chief, usu. the most vigorous adult of his kin, elected during the chief's lifetime.
tanistry noun the system of determining heirship by election of a tanist L16.