devon

devon — noun

1. a county in the far southwest of England, stretching from the Bristol Channel to

1.noun
Definition

a county in the far southwest of England, stretching from the Bristol Channel to the English Channel and containing two national parks known for their rugged landscapes, beaches, and farming communities.

Example

Devon attracts thousands of walkers and cyclists to its national parks every year.

proper noun as subject in geographical description

Kabir spent a week driving through the narrow country lanes of north Devon.

Common collocations
  • coast of Devon
  • north Devon
  • south Devon
  • the Devon countryside

Usage Note

Devon is the short form of Devonshire, an older name still used in some traditional contexts such as the title 'Devonshire cream' or the Duke of Devonshire.

2. a breed of cattle with a deep reddish-brown coat, originally raised in the Engli

2.noun
Definition

a breed of cattle with a deep reddish-brown coat, originally raised in the English county of Devon and valued for both its tender beef and rich milk.

Example

Devon cattle have a calm temperament and produce high-quality beef.

attributive use: Devon + cattle

The auction included ten young Devons from a prize-winning herd in Somerset.

plural countable: Devons

Common collocations
  • Devon cattle
  • Devon cow
  • Devon bull
  • herd of Devons
Synonyms
  • Red Ruby

    informal modern nickname for the Devon breed, emphasizing the coat colour; less precise than 'Devon'.

Usage Note

When referring to the animals, the breed is sometimes shortened to 'Devons' (plural). The singular 'a Devon' is also used: 'That calf is a purebred Devon.'

Idioms

Devon

idiom

a county in the far southwest of England, bordered by the English Channel to the south and the Bristol Channel to the north, with the historic city of Exeter as its administrative and cultural centre.

Exeter is the county town of Devon and has one of the finest Gothic cathedrals in England.

Word family

  • Devonian
    adjective
  • Devonshire
    noun

Etymology

CelticLatinOld EnglishEnglish

The name Devon comes from the Dumnonii, a Celtic tribe that lived in the southwestern peninsula of Britain during the Roman period. The tribal name evolved through Latin Dumnonia into Old English Defenas ('the people of Devon'), and later Defenascīr, from which both Devonshire and the shorter form Devon developed.