Holstein

American  

[hohl-stahyn, -steen, hohl-shtahyn] / ˈhoʊl staɪn, -stin, ˈhoʊlˌʃtaɪn /

noun

1. Also called Holstein-Friesian.  one of a breed of black-and-white dairy cattle, raised originally in North Holland and Friesland, that yields large quantities of milk having a low content of butterfat.

2. a region in N Germany, at the base of the peninsula of Jutland: a former duchy.

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Holstein ¹ British  

/ ˈhəʊlstaɪn /

noun

1. the usual US and Canadian name for Friesian 1

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Holstein ² British  

/ ˈhɔlʃtain /

noun

1. a region of N Germany, in S Schleswig-Holstein: in early times a German duchy of Saxony; became a duchy of Denmark in 1474; finally incorporated into Prussia in 1866

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Etymology

Origin of Holstein

First recorded in 1860–65

Example Sentences

Qatar could draw on its experience of airlifting 4,000 Holstein dairy cows during a 2017 trade blockade.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 14, 2026

An unconventional Deniz Undav toe-poke put Stuttgart on track for a 3-0 win at Holstein Kiel on Wednesday and the semi-finals of the German Cup.

From Barron's • Feb. 4, 2026

A Holstein dairy cow at auction gets $2200.00 which would put Mendonsa’s losses at one $60,000.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 20, 2024

An hour's drive northwest of Paris, near Amiens, in a large barn surrounded by gentle green hills, a muscular, 700kg Holstein cow manoeuvred herself into an automated milking enclosure, watched by her owner, Sophie Lenaerts.

From BBC • May 5, 2024

I picked out a fabric that looked like a black-and-white Holstein cow and a red bandanna print for the pocket and straps.

From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry