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.
Derivatives:
Toryism n.
Etymology: orig. Irish outlaw, prob. f. Ir. f. t{oacute}ir pursue