Gallowglass

The gallowglass or galloglass (also spelt gallowglas or galloglas) – from Irish: gallóglaigh (plural), gallóglach (singular) – were a class of elite mercenary warriors who principally were members of the Norse-Gaelic clans of Scotland between the mid 13th century and late 16th century. As Scots, they were Gaels and shared a common background and language with the Irish, but as they had intermarried with the 10th century Norse settlers of western Scotland, the Irish called them Gall Gaeil ("foreign Gaels").