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

When Ciccone's group, the Lazio London Casuals, became friendly with supporters from an AS Roma UK club, they suggested playing a derby match.

Read more on BBC

Back at the pub, a huddle of players dissect where the tactical battles were won and lost, before the women's Tyne-Wear derby kicks off on the big screen.

Read more on BBC

But the ultimate test when you are at a huge club like Arsenal is what you do in the big games, so Sunday's 4-1 north London derby victory was the perfect occasion for him to produce his best performance in a Gunners shirt.

Read more on BBC

Eberechi Eze, a Spurs summer target, was the hero, scoring his first hat-trick in senior football and the first in a north London derby since 1978 as Arsenal thrashed Tottenham 4-1 in an ominous display for the rest of the league.

Read more on BBC

A first senior hat-trick is a landmark in itself, let alone the first north London derby in Premier League history.

Read more on BBC