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Molly Maguire

Mol·ly Ma·guire [ mòllee mə gwr ] (plural Mol·ly Ma·guires)


noun 
Definition:
 
1. Irish fighter against government evictions: a member of a secret organization founded in Ireland in 1843 that used violent methods to stop evictions by the government

2. Irish-American miner fighting for better conditions: a member of a secret Irish-American organization, active in the coalmining districts of Pennsylvania from about 1865 to 1877, that used violent methods to try to get improved working conditions

[Mid-19th century. < a common Irish name, and because members of the original society disguised themselves as women]
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