pendragon

See also: Pendragon

English

Part or all of this entry has been imported from the 1913 edition of Webster’s Dictionary, which is now free of copyright and hence in the public domain. The imported definitions may be significantly out of date, and any more recent senses may be completely missing.
(See the entry for pendragon in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.)

Etymology

From Welsh pen (“head, chief, top”) and dragon (“dragon; (figuratively) warrior”). Literally means "Chief-Dragon" or "Head-Dragon", but in a figurative sense, "chief leader", "chief of warriors", "commander-in-chief", "generalissimo", or "chief governor". [1][2]

Noun

pendragon (plural pendragons)

  1. A chief war leader, king, or dictator -- a title assumed by the ancient British chiefs when called to lead other chiefs.
    • The dread Pendragon, Britain's king of kings. -- Tennyson.

Derived terms

References

  1. ↑ Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru, University of Wales Press, Vol III, 1994, p. 2726-2739, "pen", "pendragon"; Vol I, 1963 p. 1081, "dragon".
  2. ↑ Bromwich, Rachel, Trioedd Ynys Prydein, University of Wales Press, 4th ed., 2014, p. 512–513
  • pendragon in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
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