kerry
kerry — noun
1. a county on the Atlantic coast of southwestern Ireland, part of the province of
a county on the Atlantic coast of southwestern Ireland, part of the province of Munster. Its landscape includes mountains, lakes, and the famous Ring of Kerry driving route.
Owen grew up near Tralee, the capital of County Kerry in southwest Ireland.
proper noun as place name; capital Tralee
Every summer, tourists visit Kerry to drive the scenic route called the Ring of Kerry.
County Kerry covers about 1,800 square miles and has a population of roughly 145,000 people.
geographical statistics: area and population
Constanza took a ferry to Ireland and explored the mountains and lakes of Kerry.
exploring + Kerry (place name as tourism destination)
- County Kerry
- the Ring of Kerry
- from Kerry
- in Kerry
- the coast of Kerry
Usage Note
County Kerry is one of the 32 counties of Ireland. Its capital is Tralee, and it covers an area of about 4,719 square kilometers with a population of approximately 145,500. The county is a popular tourist destination known for the Ring of Kerry, the Lakes of Killarney, and the Dingle Peninsula. Use with the definite article when referring to the administrative region: 'the county of Kerry' or 'County Kerry' (without 'the').
2. a small and sturdy type of dairy cow that originated in Ireland. Kerry cattle ha
a small and sturdy type of dairy cow that originated in Ireland. Kerry cattle have a solid black coat and are valued for the rich milk they produce even on poor pasture.
The farmer's herd of Kerry cattle produces rich milk for the local creamery.
collocation: herd of Kerry cattle
Yuki visited a farm in Ireland to study how Kerry cows survive in harsh weather.
Kerry cattle are smaller than most dairy breeds but are valued for their hardiness.
comparative structure: are smaller than… but valued for…
Tendai wrote a report on rare farm animals and focused on the Kerry breed.
- Kerry cattle
- Kerry cow
- herd of Kerry
- Kerry breed
- raise Kerry
- Kerry cattle
full name of the breed; more precise than 'Kerry' alone
- Irish dairy cow
generic description; not specific to this breed
Usage Note
Kerry (also called Kerry cattle) can be used as a countable noun ('a Kerry' referring to one animal) or as an uncountable collective noun ('Kerry are known for…'). In modern farming the breed has become rare, with conservation groups working to protect it.
Common Mistakes
Etymology
The name 'Kerry' comes from the Irish Gaelic name 'Ciarraí', meaning 'the people of Ciar'. Ciar was an early Irish chieftain whose name means 'dark' or 'black' — which is fitting given the black coat of Kerry cattle. The county gave its name to the cattle breed, not the other way around.