Irish setter

noun

: any of a breed of bird dogs resembling English setters but with a glossy mahogany-red coat

Examples of Irish setter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Former presidents Richard Nixon and Harry Truman, along with former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, all had Irish setters. Marina Watts, People.com, 11 Oct. 2024 Go back a half-century, and the third most popular breed was the Irish setter — now 76th. CBS News, 20 Mar. 2024 There were several outbuildings, including a guest house and a large kennel, where Will kept English and Irish setters. David Owen, The New Yorker, 2 Jan. 2024 See dignitaries and honorees, floats, high school marching bands, police and fire department units, Irish community groups, dancing groups, equestrian units, clowns, antique cars, Irish setters, and more. Cathi Douglas, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Mar. 2023 For most of the 20th century, breeders focused so exclusively on the Irish setter’s conformation that finding a red dog that could hunt was like finding a leprechaun. Kyle Wintersteen, Field & Stream, 30 Jan. 2023 One duty Haney has also taken on has been walking the first family's dogs, beginning with Nixon's Irish setter, King Timahoe. Kyle Swenson, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Oct. 2022 There was Honey, the Irish setter whose fatal habit was chasing cars. Sarah Paley, The New Yorker, 16 Nov. 2021

Word History

First Known Use

1812, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Irish setter was in 1812

Dictionary Entries Near Irish setter

Cite this Entry

“Irish setter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Irish%20setter. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

Irish setter

noun
: any of a breed of bird dogs having a mahogany-red coat

More from Merriam-Webster on Irish setter

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!