devon

IPA/ˈdev.ən/
KK[dˈɛvən]IPA/ˈdev.ən/

devon — noun

  • devonsingular
  • devonsplural

1. a large area in southwestern England that has its own county council, coastlines

1.nounB1
Definition

a large area in southwestern England that has its own county council, coastlines on the English Channel and the Bristol Channel, and is famous for its beaches, green hills, and traditional foods such as clotted cream and cider

Example

The Watanabe family spent their summer holiday in Devon, exploring sandy beaches and village lanes.

collocation: in Devon (place without the definite article)

Devon has two national parks, Dartmoor and Exmoor, where visitors walk and camp each year.

Common collocations
  • in Devon
  • the Devon coast / the Devon countryside
  • to Devon
  • from Devon
  • Devon cream tea
  • the county of Devon
Synonyms
  • Devonshire

    formal or traditional alternative for the same county

Grammar Patterns

Devon as a named region

the Devon coast / the Devon countryside (attributive)

Usage Note

Devon is the standard modern name for the county. The traditional name 'Devonshire' appears mainly in formal contexts, such as the titles of organisations (e.g. the Devonshire Association). In written addresses, 'Devon' is the official abbreviated form of Devonshire.

Common Mistakes

The Devon has beautiful beaches.
Devon has beautiful beaches.
Devon is a proper noun and does not take 'the' when used as the county name.
She lives in Devonshire countryside.
She lives in the Devonshire countryside.
When used as a modifier, 'Devonshire' may need 'the' depending on the noun phrase.

2. a breed of cow with a dark reddish-brown coat, originally from the county of Dev

2.nounB2
Definition

a breed of cow with a dark reddish-brown coat, originally from the county of Devon in England, raised mainly for its high-quality beef

Example

The farmer keeps a herd of Devons on his land near the village of Chagford.

collocation: herd of Devons

Devon cows are known for their rich red colour and calm, friendly nature.

Common collocations
  • Devon cattle
  • Devon bull / Devon heifer
  • herd of Devons
  • Devon beef
  • breed of Devon
  • purebred Devon
Synonyms

Grammar Patterns

Devon cows / Devons (plural)

a Devon bull / a Devon heifer

Usage Note

Farmers often shorten the name to 'Devons' in plural (e.g. 'a herd of Devons'). This breed is sometimes called 'Devon Ruby' or 'Red Ruby Devon' because of its deep coat colour.

Common Mistakes

Devon cows is a popular breed in the West Country.
Devon cows are a popular breed in the West Country.
'cows' is plural, so the verb must be 'are'.

Word family

  • Devonian
    adjectiveC2
  • Devonshire
    nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Devon is the standard modern name for the county in southwestern England. Devonshire is a traditional alternative that survives in formal contexts (titles, organisations) and in certain compound names such as 'Devonshire cream tea'. The West Country is a broader region that includes Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, and Dorset; it is used to refer to the culture, dialect, and landscape of southwestern England as a whole. Cornwall borders Devon to the west across the River Tamar and has a distinct cultural identity, including its own language. In everyday speech, a person from Devon says 'I live in Devon', whereas 'the West Country' would be used to locate the area for someone less familiar with English geography.

Devonshirethe West CountryCornwall ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • the county of Devon
  • the ___ coast of Devon
  • a native of Devon

Prepositions

Etymology

Common BrittonicLatinOld EnglishEnglish

The name 'Devon' comes from the Old English word 'Defenas', which referred to the Dumnonii, a Celtic tribe that lived in the area during the Roman occupation of Britain. Over time, 'Defenas' became the name for both the people and the land they inhabited, eventually developing into the modern county name 'Devon'. The longer form 'Devonshire' adds the Old English suffix '-scīr' (meaning 'district' or 'administrative area').

First known use

1834

1834, in the meaning defined above