dairy Meaning, Definition & Usage

Dai"ry noun

Etymology

OE. deierie, from deie, daie, maid; of Scand. origin; cf. Icel. deigja maid, dairymaid, Sw. deja, orig., a baking maid, fr. Icel. deig. 66. See Dough.

Wordforms

plural Dairies

Definitions

1. The place, room, or house where milk is kept, and converted into butter or cheese.

   What stores my dairies and my folds contain. Dryden.

2. That department of farming which is concerned in the production of milk, and its conversion into butter and cheese.

   Grounds were turned much in England either to feeding or dairy; and this advanced the trade of English butter. Temple.

3. A dairy farm. R. ✍ Dairy is much used adjectively or in combination; as, dairy farm, dairy countries, dairy house or dairyhouse, dairyroom, dairywork, etc.