terry

See also: Terry

English

Pronunciation

• enPR: tĕ'rē, IPA^(key): /ˈtɛɹi/
• Rhymes: -ɛɹi

Etymology 1

Of uncertain origin, possibly French tiré (“drawn out”), past participle of tirer (“to draw out”).

Noun

terry (countable and uncountable, plural terries)

1. A type of coarse cotton fabric covered in many small raised loops that is used to make towels, bathrobes and some types of nappy/diaper.
2. (Commonwealth, dated) Any makeshift cloth nappy folded from a large piece of absorbent fabric and held in place by a nappy pin or nappy fastener; a flat nappy.

   Synonyms: terry diaper, terry nappy

Synonyms

• terrycloth
• terry cloth

Derived terms

• French terry

Translations

terry cloth — see terry cloth

Further reading

• James A. H. Murray et al., editors (1884–1928), “Terry”, in A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), London: Clarendon Press, →OCLC.

Etymology 2

Contraction of terrorist.

Noun

terry (plural terries)

1. (euphemistic) A terrorist

Anagrams

• retry, tryer