DCHP-1 Online
Royalist † Hist. 
1a n. a person loyal to the British Crown during the American Revolution.
- 1775 On reading in your paper an account of the skirmish between the Rebels and Royalists at Montreal . . . I have endeavoured to give you as true and perfect an account as possible. . . .
1b n. one of a large number of persons loyal to the British Crown during the American Revolution, many of whom came to the eastern provinces of Canada as settlers during the Revolution and for some years afterwards.
See also: United Empire Loyalist
- 1785 (1943) The Royalists have settlements along Lake St. Francis and up to Cataraqui.
- 1818 Two royalist families, in 1783, settled it from South Carolina. . . .
2 n. a supporter of the Crown in the Rebellion (def. 1) of 1837-38.
See also: Rebellion (def. 1)
- 1837 The main body of the Royalists were ordered to halt, and opening to right and left, allowed the field-pieces to pass to the front . . . the second discharge of which spread such terrour and confusion in the Rebel ranks, that they broke and fled in all directions.
- 1775 On reading in your paper an account of the skirmish between the Rebels and Royalists at Montreal . . . I have endeavoured to give you as true and perfect an account as possible. . . .