# terry

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈtɛɹi/ · frequency rank #4,806

## Definitions
1. A type of coarse cotton fabric covered in many small raised loops that is used to make towels, bathrobes and some types of nappy/diaper.
2. Any makeshift cloth nappy folded from a large piece of absorbent fabric and held in place by a nappy pin or nappy fastener; a flat nappy.

## Etymology
Of uncertain origin, possibly French tiré (“drawn out”), past participle of tirer (“to draw out”).

## Easily confused with
- **try** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/terry-vs-try)
- **Troy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/terry-vs-troy)
- **Tory** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/terry-vs-tory)
- **tray** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/terry-vs-tray)
- **Trey** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/terry-vs-trey)
- **terse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/terry-vs-terse)
- **theory** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/terry-vs-theory)
- **ter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/ter-vs-terry)
- **term** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/term-vs-terry)
- **tear** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tear-vs-terry)
- **Teri** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/teri-vs-terry)
- **tern** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tern-vs-terry)
- **terms** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/terms-vs-terry)
- **tears** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tears-vs-terry)
- **teddy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/teddy-vs-terry)
- **terra** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/terra-vs-terry)
- **telly** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/telly-vs-terry)
- **teeny** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/teeny-vs-terry)
- **teary** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/teary-vs-terry)
- **tardy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/tardy-vs-terry)

## Common misspellings (6)
`etrry`, `terryy`, `tery`, `teryr`, `trery`, `tterry`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/terry