Derby

¹

[dur-bee, dahr-bee]

noun

1. a city in Derbyshire in central England.

2. Derbyshire.

3. a city in S Connecticut.

Derby

²

[dur-bee, dahr-bee]

noun

plural

Derbies 

1. a race for three-year-old horses that is run annually at Epsom Downs, near London, England: first run in 1780.

2. any of certain other important annual horse races, usually for three-year-old horses, especially the Kentucky Derby.

3. (lowercase),  a race or contest, usually one open to all who wish to enter and offering a prize for the winner.

4. (lowercase),  any endeavor or venture regarded as a competition.

   to win the gubernatorial derby.

5. Also called bowler. (lowercase),  a stiff felt hat with rounded crown and narrow brim, worn chiefly by men.

Derby

¹

/ ˈdɑːbɪ /

noun

1. a city in central England, in Derby unitary authority, Derbyshire: engineering industries (esp aircraft engines and railway rolling stock); university (1991). Pop: 229 407 (2001)

2. a unitary authority in central England, in Derbyshire. Pop: 233 200 (2003 est). Area: 78 sq km (30 sq miles)

3. a firm-textured pale-coloured type of cheese

4. a green-and-white Derby cheese flavoured with sage

Derby

²

/ ˈdɜːrbɪ, ˈdɑːbɪ /

noun

1. an annual horse race run at Epsom Downs, Surrey, since 1780: one of the English flat-racing classics

2. any of various other horse races

3. a football match between two teams from the same area

Derby

³

/ ˈdɑːbɪ /

noun

1. Earl of. title of Edward George Geoffrey Smith Stanley. 1799–1869, British statesman; Conservative prime minister (1852; 1858–59; 1866–68)

derby

⁴

/ ˈdɜːrbɪ /

noun

1. Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): bowler. a stiff felt hat with a rounded crown and narrow curved brim

Word History and Origins

Origin of Derby¹

First recorded in 1830–40; after Edward Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby (died 1834), who instituted the race

Word History and Origins

Origin of Derby¹

C18: named after the twelfth Earl of Derby (died 1834), who founded the horse race at Epsom Downs in 1780

Example Sentences

Elsewhere, Ryan Ogam scored after 73 minutes to give Kenya a 1-0 win over Burundi in a fiery east African derby in Bujumbura, where the home side had to play with 10 men for all but six minutes.

Read more on Barron's

Parents at several schools were sent warnings after it was found a URL printed in the Spy Dog, Spy Cat and Spy Pups books by Derby author Andrew Cope was linking to "inappropriate" adult content.

Read more on BBC

News of Hatton's death emerged on the morning of the Manchester derby on 14 September.

Read more on BBC

Danny Jackson, a close friend to Hatton and Manchester City's matchday announcer, delivered an emotional speech in memory of his pal at the recent City-United derby.

Read more on BBC

I had heard of Johnny Cash in the same way I’d heard of Baked Alaska, roller derby and Texarkana—things that existed that were important to people in worlds different from mine.

Read more on Wall Street Journal