Irish setter

American  

noun

1. one of an Irish breed of setters having a golden-chestnut or mahogany-red coat.

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Irish setter British  

noun

1. Also called: red setter.  a breed of setter developed in Ireland, having a flat soft brownish-red coat

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Etymology

Origin of Irish setter

First recorded in 1880–85

Compare meaning

How does irish-setter compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• English setter vs. Irish setter

Example Sentences

One dog was bred to an Irish setter, and its pups were bred to their canine aunts, uncles, and cousins.

From Slate • Oct. 9, 2023

We loved the layout of the home on a half acre of land, and the sprawling backyard was perfect for the Irish setter we had at the time.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 24, 2023

She told the BBC that they had shared photos of their house and their dog, an Irish setter called Rathlin, with the family as they waited.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2022

He and his wife had become accustomed to the eerie silence of their Tahoe Keys neighborhood as they sheltered in place with air purifiers along with their Irish setter, Trudy, and Gracie the cat.

From Washington Post • Sep. 7, 2021

The family also had an Irish setter and an Airedale terrier.

From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston