Derby

[ dur-bee; for 1, 2 also British dahr-bee ]

/ ˈdɜr bi; for 1, 2 also British ˈdɑr bi /

noun

a city in Derbyshire in central England.

Derbyshire.

a city in S Connecticut.

Definition for derby (2 of 2)

Derby

[ dur-bee; British dahr-bee ]

/ ˈdɜr bi; British ˈdɑr bi /

noun, plural Der·bies.

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.

Origin of Derby

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. 2019

Examples from the Web for derby

So please enjoy “One Red Rose: The Green Kid on Middleground Plucks a Derby Trophy,” which ran on May 6, 1950.
One Red Rose for the Green Kid Who Won the Kentucky Derby|Red Smith|May 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It was Derby Day when Clarissa came home to find her mother dead.
The Week in Death: Clarissa Dickson Wright, One of ‘Two Fat Ladies’|The Telegraph|March 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In 2011, Napravnik came in ninth--the best finish by a female jockey in Derby history.
Rosie Napravnik Didn't Win the Derby, But Stole Our Hearts|Nina Strochlic|May 5, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Rosemarie Smith, 83, from Derby, said she had stored the slice in a Royal Crown Derby cup at her home ever since.
Slice of Charles's Toast to be Auctioned|Tom Sykes|July 13, 2012|DAILY BEAST

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|DAILY BEAST
They discovered that my middle name was Derby, and they christened me "Darby the Yank."
A Yankee in the Trenches|R. Derby Holmes
There was a little cuss there in a Derby hat wouldnt let me.
On Your Mark!|Ralph Henry Barbour
People were arriving from the Derby, and the talk was of the day's racing.
The Christian|Hall Caine
The great race of the day, the "Derby of Australasia," was run at 3.30.
Forty Thousand Miles Over Land and Water|Lady (Ethel Gwendoline [Moffatt]) Vincent
To these oppose the six counties from Derby to Worcester inclusive.
The Miscellaneous Writings and Speeches of Lord Macaulay, Vol. 2 (of 4)|Thomas Babington Macaulay

British Dictionary definitions for derby (1 of 4)

derby

/ (ˈdɜːrbɪ) /

noun plural -bies

US and Canadian a stiff felt hat with a rounded crown and narrow curved brimAlso called (in Britain and certain other countries): bowler

British Dictionary definitions for derby (2 of 4)

Derby

/ (ˈdɑːbɪ, US ˈdɜːrbɪ) /

noun

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

Word Origin for Derby

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

British Dictionary definitions for derby (3 of 4)

Derby

/ (ˈdɑːbɪ) /

noun

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

British Dictionary definitions for derby (4 of 4)

Derby

/ (ˈdɑːbɪ) /

noun

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

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

derby

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).