![]() While a smooth-headed shilelagh was made for a more comfortable walking stick and was more likely to deliver a survivable concussion as a sporting or duelling weapon, heads with a small bump or knob on it was more likely to break the skull itself and cause immediate death or death by cerebral trauma. Often, whether the knobs or bumps were left on the head of the shillelagh was what marked the distinction. These were also likely heavier, and probably shorter than other shillelagh for close-in fighting. This geographic connection is, however, likely not actually true as there aren't historic connections and unfortunately all we have right now is a very strong tourist trade and that both the original Irish names ended up with the same Anglicized pronunciation (Keenan, 2003).įor defensive shillelagh any head would do, but the knobbier and more irregular the better, since they were only brought out for lethal intent. Vulgar Tongue, Shillaley, an oaken sapling, or cudgel, (Irish) from wood of that name famous for its oaks." Online Etymology Dictionary: shillelagh 1772, "cudgel," earlier, "oak wood used to make cudgels" 1670s, from Shillelagh, town and barony in Co. OED provides the following quotation: "1785 F. The geographic name derives from Síol Éalaigh, which in English translates to "Descendents of Éalach ( Hall, 1841: 426 Hurley, 2007 Oxford English Dictionary: Etymology: the name of a barony and village in Co. The practice of making these is thought to have originated in the village of Shillelagh, County Wicklow, which was once to be surrounded by vast oak forests, where much of the material was harvested. It could have been named directly from the materials or the tool/weapon could have been named after the location where it came from. ![]() This will end in the examination of why the designers may have decided to name the spell as they did where did the idea of a magical spiritually-imbued druidic weapon come from? Second, I will look at what the shillelagh is in our world and the role it continues to plays in the legends and history and culture of Ireland. In this article, I will first examine my introduction to the word through the rules of D&D. Other than hearing it in a list of generic Irish stereotypes along with shamrocks, clovers, leprechauns, and Guiness. ![]() It's no secret that Dungeons and Dragons is inspired by worldwide legends and mythology and for such a long time I have been wondering what the word 'shillelagh' came from. But, either way the walking sticks all got the same bonuses when I used my second favorite cantrip, Shillelagh. For around a year and a half I played the Dungeons and Dragons campaign Curse of Strahd as a Kenku Grave Cleric who carried around a quarterstaff, which I upgraded to a Gulthias Staff, and then to a super tricked out quarterstaff called the Staff of Wracking Heals, homebrewed by the DM and one of the other PCs.
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