What does devon mean?
Devon is a county in the south-west of England, bordered by Cornwall to the west and Dorset and Somerset to the east. Renowned for its dramatic coastline along both the English Channel and the Bristol Channel, it encompasses two national parks, Dartmoor and Exmoor, as well as the popular seaside resorts of Torbay. Its name derives from the Dumnonii, a Celtic tribe who inhabited the area before the Roman conquest. Beyond geography, 'Devon' identifies a traditional breed of reddish cattle valued for both beef and dairy, and it has given its name to the Devonian geological period, after the marine rocks first studied there. Culturally, the county is strongly associated with dairy farming, clotted cream, and the celebrated Devon cream tea, making the word evocative of rural English landscape and tradition.
A county in south-west England, known for Dartmoor, Exmoor, and its coastline.
"We rented a cottage in Devon for the summer."
Proper noun; used without an article.
A breed of reddish-brown cattle originating from the county of Devon.
"The herd of Devon cattle grazed on the hillside."
Also called North Devon or Red Ruby cattle.
Used mainly when referring collectively to the cattle breed.
"The farm specializes in breeding Devons."
The Devonian period of geological time — famous for early fossils and ancient seas — is named after rocks found in this one English county.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of devon
The name Devon comes from the Dumnonii, a Brittonic Celtic tribe whose territory covered the south-western peninsula at the time of the Roman conquest; their tribal name is thought to derive from a word meaning 'deep valley dwellers' or 'those of the deep valleys'. Latin forms such as Dumnonia were applied to the region, and the Old English form Defnas gave rise to the modern name. The related term Devonian, coined for the geological period, was taken from the county's distinctive rock strata.
Related word forms
How devon is actually used
When referring to the county, it is usually used without an article ('in Devon', 'across Devon'). In Australia and New Zealand, 'devon' can informally refer to a type of processed sausage meat sold in slices — a usage largely unknown in Britain.
Easily confused with devon
Dover is a port town in Kent, whereas Devon is a large county in south-west England.