derry

¹

[ der-ee ]

noun

, plural der·ries.

1. a meaningless refrain or chorus in old songs.

Derry

²

[ der-ee ]

noun

1. Londonderry ( defs 1, 2 ).
2. a town in SE New Hampshire.

derry

¹

/ ˈdɛrɪ /

noun

1. slang.
   a derelict house, esp one used by tramps, drug addicts, etc

derry

²

/ ˈdɛrɪ /

noun

1. have a derry on
   to have a prejudice or grudge against

Derry

³

/ ˈdɛrɪ /

noun

1. a district in NW Northern Ireland, in Co Londonderry. Pop: 106 456 (2003 est). Area: 387 sq km (149 sq miles)
2. another name for Londonderry

Word History and Origins

Origin of derry¹

First recorded in 1545–55; of obscure origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of derry¹

C20: shortened from derelict

Origin of derry²

C19: probably from derry down, a refrain in some folk songs, alluding to the phrase have a down on; see down ¹

Example Sentences

But the sisters are radicalized after being attacked in the 1969 Burntollet Bridge incident, when protesters calling for equal rights on a peaceful march from Belfast to Derry were ambushed by a mob wielding stones, iron bars and sticks spiked with nails.

From Los Angeles Times

“Derry Girls” director Mike Lennox infuses a necessary liveliness into a dark story that links to present concerns in more ways than simply thematic.

From Salon

Lennox, a Belfast native who previously worked on the Troubles-themed coming of age comedy “Derry Girls,” played an essential role in setting its tone which, though grim, is also inflected with dark humor.

From Los Angeles Times

On Friday, the court in Derry heard how McMonagle had communicated with a number of online accounts which were run by police officers posing as children.

From BBC

McMonagle worked for a time as a newspaper journalist in Derry before being employed as a Sinn Féin press officer in the north west.

From BBC