Irish setter

American  

noun

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

---

Irish setter British  

noun

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

---

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

See Examples For:

Irish setter

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

Andy: At the moment I’m just happy the Gordon setter is playing Switzerland between the English setter and the Irish setter.

From New York Times ● Feb. 11, 2020

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

From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston