dairy
UK[ˈdeəri]US[ˈderi]
n
A place on a farm where milk is kept and butter and cheese are made.
n
Milk, butter, cheese, and other products made from milk.
n
A company that sells milk and products made from milk.
Etymology
The word 'dairy' has a humble and practical origin, tracing back to the daily work of the farm. It evolved from the Old English 'dǣge', which referred specifically to a female servant, particularly one who kneaded dough. In Middle English, this became 'deie', denoting a dairymaid—the woman responsible for the milk, butter, and cheese. By the late 14th century, the term 'deierie' emerged to describe the room or building where the dairymaid worked, solidifying the shift from the person to the place of production. This etymological journey reflects the central role of women's domestic labor in the agricultural economy, with the meaning expanding from the servant herself to her workplace and finally to the products made there.
Analysis
The word 'dairy' is a simplex word derived from Middle English 'deierie', which itself came from 'deie', meaning a female servant or dairymaid. The ultimate origin is the Old English 'dǣge', meaning a kneader of dough or a female servant.
Examples
The farm has a modern, hygienic dairy for processing its milk.
She avoids eating dairy because she is lactose intolerant.
A large national dairy supplies milk to supermarkets across the country.