The fair maid of Ireland
Preserved but no longer current.
Ignis fatuus (#.v.). He had read in former times of a Going Fire, called "Ignis Fatuus." the fire of destiny, by some, "Wall with the Wisp," or "Jack with the Lantern"; and like- wise, by some simple country people, "The Fair Maid of Ireland," which used to lead wandering travellers out of their way. — The Seven Champions of Christendom, i, 7.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “The fair maid of Ireland” mean?
Ignis fatuus (#.v.). He had read in former times of a Going Fire, called "Ignis Fatuus." the fire of destiny, by some, "Wall with the Wisp," or "Jack with the Lantern"; and like- wise, by some simple country people, "The Fair Maid of Ireland," which used to lead wandering travellers out of their way. — The Seven Champions of Christendom, i, 7.
Is “The fair maid of Ireland” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.