darby

[dahr-bee]

See more synonyms for darby on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural dar·bies. Building Trades.

a float having two handles, used by plasterers.

Origin of darby

1565–75; perhaps after a proper name or Derby, England

Darby

[dahr-bee]

noun

a city in SE Pennsylvania.

darbies

[dahr-beez]

plural noun British Slang.

handcuffs; manacles.

Origin of darbies

First recorded in 1565–75; probably from the phrase Darby's bonds a rigid bond, perhaps named after a noted 16th-century usurer

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for darby

Contemporary Examples

Alex Gaurnaschelli is the executive chef of Butter Restaurant and The Darby.
Fresh Picks
Alex Guarnaschelli
September 15, 2011
I talked to [his then-wife] Darby, who said I needed to give this all over to a Higher Power.
The 10 Biggest Scoops From Karl Rove's Memoir
The Daily Beast
March 8, 2010
I was determined not to let White House colleagues, the press, the public, or anyone else—up to and including Darby—see me suffer.
The 10 Biggest Scoops From Karl Rove's Memoir
The Daily Beast
March 8, 2010
Darby McCormick is one of the best heroines in thriller fiction: smart, resourceful and tough as nails.
Thriller Night
David J. Montgomery
August 28, 2009
The book that introduced Darby, The Missing, is currently the only one available from an American publisher.
Thriller Night
David J. Montgomery
August 28, 2009

Historical Examples

From an Irish estate, my great-grandfather changed it to that of Darby.
Beaux and Belles of England
Mary Robinson
"Miss Darby, or I am mistaken," said he, with a bow of marked civility.
Beaux and Belles of England
Mary Robinson
The vessel of Captain Darby was the first that reached the rock by nearly an hour.
Beaux and Belles of England
Mary Robinson
This is the atmosphere which must have attended the performance of Dunlap's "Darby's Return."
Andr
William Dunlap
His name was—Darby;—that was his baptizing name; his other name I forgot.
The Contrast
Royall Tyler

British Dictionary definitions for darby

Darby

noun

Abraham. 1677–1717, British iron manufacturer: built the first coke-fired blast furnace (1709)

darbies

pl n

British short for handcuffsSee handcuff

Word Origin

C16: perhaps from the phrase Father Derby's or Father Darby's bonds, a rigid agreement between a usurer and his client

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

darby

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}darby

Darby

darbies

Origin of darbies

Examples from the Web for darby

Contemporary Examples

Alex Gaurnaschelli is the executive chef of Butter Restaurant and The Darby.

I talked to [his then-wife] Darby, who said I needed to give this all over to a Higher Power.

I was determined not to let White House colleagues, the press, the public, or anyone else—up to and including Darby—see me suffer.

Darby McCormick is one of the best heroines in thriller fiction: smart, resourceful and tough as nails.

The book that introduced Darby, The Missing, is currently the only one available from an American publisher.

Historical Examples

From an Irish estate, my great-grandfather changed it to that of Darby.

"Miss Darby, or I am mistaken," said he, with a bow of marked civility.

The vessel of Captain Darby was the first that reached the rock by nearly an hour.

This is the atmosphere which must have attended the performance of Dunlap's "Darby's Return."

His name was—Darby;—that was his baptizing name; his other name I forgot.

Darby

darbies

Word Origin

Origin of darby