n. & adj.
n. (pl. -ies) 1 colloq. = CONSERVATIVE n. 2. 2 hist. a member of the party that opposed the exclusion of James II and later supported the established religious and political order and gave rise to the Conservative party (opp. WHIG). 3 US hist. a loyal colonist during the American Revolution.
adj. colloq. = CONSERVATIVE adj. 3. Toryism n.
[ orig. = Irish outlaw, prob. f. Ir. f. tóir pursue ]