English actress (1847-1928)
"The theater program featured a sketch about Terry, the famous Victorian-era stage actress known for her dramatic roles in melodramas."
a pile fabric (usually cotton) with uncut loops on both sides; used to make bath towels and bath robes
"I reached for my favorite terry robe after stepping out of the shower, enjoying how soft the looped cotton felt against my skin."
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.
"After drying off from the pool, I wrapped myself snugly in my soft terry bathrobe before heading inside."
In plain English: Terry is a type of soft, looped fabric often used to make towels and bathrobes.
"She put on a soft terry towel to dry off after her swim."
Usage: Terry refers specifically to the looped cotton fabric found on towels and robes rather than the soft pile texture itself. Use this term when describing items made from terry cloth or simply as a shorthand for such fabrics in casual conversation.
A patronymic surname, from given names from the medieval Norman given name Thierry, a cognate of the English Derek.
"After the family reunion, everyone gathered to hear about Cousin Terry's story of how his ancestor Thierry settled in Normandy centuries ago."
The word terry likely comes from the French phrase tiré, meaning "drawn out." It entered English with this original sense before evolving to describe a specific type of fabric.