Idioms for down

Origin of down

1
before 1100; Middle English doune, Old English dūne, aphetic variant of adūne for of dūne off (the) hill; see a-2, down3

OTHER WORDS FROM down

un·downed, adjective

Definition for down (2 of 4)

down 2
[ doun ]
/ daʊn /

noun

the soft, first plumage of many young birds.
the soft under plumage of birds as distinct from the contour feathers.
the under plumage of some birds, as geese and ducks, used for filling in quilts, clothing, etc., chiefly for warmth.
a growth of soft, fine hair or the like.
Botany.
  1. a fine, soft pubescence on plants and some fruits.
  2. the light, feathery pappus or coma on seeds by which they are borne on the wind, as on the dandelion and thistle.

adjective

filled with down: a down jacket.

Origin of down

2
1325–75; Middle English downe < Old Norse dūnn

OTHER WORDS FROM down

down·less, adjective down·like, adjective

Definition for down (3 of 4)

down 3
[ doun ]
/ daʊn /

noun

Often downs. (used especially in southern England) open, rolling, upland country with fairly smooth slopes usually covered with grass.
(initial capital letter) any sheep of several breeds, raised originally in the downs of southern England, as the Southdown, Suffolk, etc.
Archaic. a hill, especially a sand hill or dune.

Origin of down

3
before 1000; Middle English; Old English dūn hill; cognate with Dutch duin dune; not related to Irish, Old Irish dún (see town)

Definition for down (4 of 4)

Down
[ doun ]
/ daʊn /

noun

a county in SW Northern Ireland. 952 sq. mi. (2466 sq. km). County seat: Downpatrick.
an administrative district in this county. 253 sq. mi. (654 sq. km).

Example sentences from the Web for down

British Dictionary definitions for down (1 of 5)

Word Origin for down

Old English dūne, short for adūne, variant of of dūne, literally: from the hill, from of, off + dūn hill; see down 3

British Dictionary definitions for down (2 of 5)

down 2
/ (daʊn) /

noun

the soft fine feathers with free barbs that cover the body of a bird and prevent loss of heat. In the adult they lie beneath and between the contour feathers
another name for eiderdown (def. 1)
botany a fine coating of soft hairs, as on certain leaves, fruits, and seeds
any growth or coating of soft fine hair, such as that on the human face

Word Origin for down

C14: of Scandinavian origin; related to Old Norse dūnn

British Dictionary definitions for down (3 of 5)

down 3
/ (daʊn) /

noun

archaic a hill, esp a sand dune See also downs (def. 1), Downs (def. 1)

Word Origin for down

Old English dūn; related to Old Frisian dūne, Old Saxon dūna hill, Old Irish dūn fortress, Greek this sandbank; see dune, town

British Dictionary definitions for down (4 of 5)

Down 1
/ (daʊn) /

noun

a district of SE Northern Ireland, in Co Down. Pop: 65 195 (2003 est). Area: 649 sq km (250 sq miles)
a historical county of SE Northern Ireland, on the Irish Sea: generally hilly, rising to the Mountains of Mourne: in 1973 it was replaced for administrative purposes by the districts of Ards, Banbridge, Castlereagh, Down, Newry and Mourne, North Down, and part of Lisburn. Area: 2466 sq km (952 sq miles)

British Dictionary definitions for down (5 of 5)

Down 2
/ (daʊn) /

noun

any of various lowland breeds of sheep, typically of stocky build and having dense close wool, originating from various parts of southern England, such as Oxford, Hampshire, etc See also Dorset Down
another name for Hampshire Down

Idioms and Phrases with down

down