kerry

IPA/ˈker.i/
KK[kˈɛri]IPA/ˈker.i/

kerry — noun

1. a small black breed of dairy cattle from Ireland, valued for its milk.

1.noun
Definition

a small black breed of dairy cattle from Ireland, valued for its milk.

Example

Imran showed us a kerry cow in the dairy barn after lunch.

a kerry cow

Hao said the kerry gives rich milk despite its small size.

gives rich milk

Common collocations
  • a kerry cow
  • kerry cattle
  • rich milk
  • dairy breed
Synonyms
  • Kerry cow

    the fuller breed name, especially when talking about one animal

Usage Note

Usually appears in farming or breed-writing contexts and is often capitalized as 'Kerry'. Distinguish it from the Irish county name: this sense refers only to the cattle breed.

Common Mistakes

Any black cow from Ireland is a kerry.
A kerry is one specific Irish dairy breed.
the word names a particular breed, not every Irish cow.

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • kerry cattle
  • keep kerry cattle

Etymology

Irish place namebreed name

Named after County Kerry in Ireland, where the breed developed.

First known use

1829

1829, in the meaning defined above