Derby1
[dur-bee; for 1, 2 also British dahr-bee]
- a city in Derbyshire in central England.
- Derbyshire.
- a city in S Connecticut.
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Derby2
[dur-bee; British dahr-bee]
- a race for three-year-old horses that is run annually at Epsom Downs, near London, England: first run in 1780.
- any of certain other important annual horse races, usually for three-year-old horses, especially the Kentucky Derby.
- (lowercase) a race or contest, usually one open to all who wish to enter and offering a prize for the winner.
- (lowercase) any endeavor or venture regarded as a competition: to win the gubernatorial derby.
- (lowercase) Also called bowler. a stiff felt hat with rounded crown and narrow brim, worn chiefly by men.
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Origin of Derby2
First recorded in 1830–40; after Edward Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby (died 1834), who instituted the race
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for derby
Contemporary Examples
So please enjoy “One Red Rose: The Green Kid on Middleground Plucks a Derby Trophy,” which ran on May 6, 1950.
It was Derby Day when Clarissa came home to find her mother dead.
In 2011, Napravnik came in ninth--the best finish by a female jockey in Derby history.
Rosemarie Smith, 83, from Derby, said she had stored the slice in a Royal Crown Derby cup at her home ever since.
And that was the turning point to where I was like, OK, derby first and everything else after.
Is Gotham Girl All-Star Bonnie Thunders the LeBron James of Roller Derby?Thomas Gerbasi
June 23, 2012
Historical Examples
The latest proprietor of those times was James, Earl of Derby.
The Grand Old ManRichard B. Cook
But about the Derby, I have reasons for wishing to win that race, reasons other than the money.
ThoroughbredsW. A. Fraser
It's just three days till the Derby, an' we've got to give him a strong workout.
ThoroughbredsW. A. Fraser
A thought flashed through his mind that it might be the Derby.
ThoroughbredsW. A. Fraser
The day before the Derby, the 12th of the month, Alan asked his day's leave and got it.
ThoroughbredsW. A. Fraser
derby
- US and Canadian a stiff felt hat with a rounded crown and narrow curved brimAlso called (in Britain and certain other countries): bowler
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Derby1
- the Derby an annual horse race run at Epsom Downs, Surrey, since 1780: one of the English flat-racing classics
- any of various other horse races
- local Derby a football match between two teams from the same area
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Word Origin
C18: named after the twelfth Earl of Derby (died 1834), who founded the horse race at Epsom Downs in 1780
Derby2
- 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)
- a unitary authority in central England, in Derbyshire. Pop: 233 200 (2003 est). Area: 78 sq km (30 sq miles)
- a firm-textured pale-coloured type of cheese
- sage Derby a green-and-white Derby cheese flavoured with sage
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Derby3
- Earl of. title of Edward George Geoffrey Smith Stanley. 1799–1869, British statesman; Conservative prime minister (1852; 1858–59; 1866–68)
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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
Word Origin and History for derby
n.
type of hat," manufactured in U.S. 1850, name appears 1870, perhaps from annual Derby horse race in England, where this type of hat was worn. Race was begun 1780 by the 12th Earl of Derby; the name was used for any major horse race after 1875. Derby the English shire is Old English Deorby "deer village," from deor "deer" + by "habitation, homestead," from a Scandinavian source (see bylaw).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper