A Local Derby and the Derby Are Both From One Earl
A derby is a horse race or a match between local rivals. Both meanings trace to the Earl of Derby and the race he founded.
A derby is a major horse race, or a match between two local rival clubs. Both come from the Epsom Derby, founded in 1780 and named after the 12th Earl of Derby, who reportedly won the right to name it on the toss of a coin against Sir Charles Bunbury. Had the coin landed the other way, football would have local bunburies. In American English *derby* also names a stiff hat, called a bowler in Britain.
- A horse race. *The Epsom Derby.*
- A local rivalry match. *A Manchester derby.*
- A stiff hat (American). *A derby hat.*
- Demolition derby — a car contest. *A demolition derby.*
- Bowler — the British name for the hat. *A bowler hat.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | derby | A local derby. |
| Plural | derbies | Two derbies. |
| Proper noun | the Derby | The Epsom Derby. |
| US sense | derby | A derby hat. |
| UK equivalent | bowler | A bowler hat. |
- The derby ended in a draw.Football.
- She won the Derby at nineteen.Racing.
- Americans call a bowler a derby.Clothing.
Famous derbies
- The Epsom Derby — the original, founded 1780
- The Kentucky Derby — the American race, from 1875
- Local derby — any match between neighbouring clubs
- Demolition derby — a contest of deliberate car collisions
- Roller derby — the contact sport on skates
From the Earl of Derby, who founded the Epsom race in 1780. The title comes from the English town of Derby, from Old Norse for deer settlement.
Why is a rivalry match called a derby?
By extension from the Epsom Derby, which stood for a major sporting occasion drawing local crowds.
Is derby the same as a bowler hat?
Yes, in American English. Britain calls the same hat a bowler, after the hatter who made it.