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setter


setter

/

Irish setter—Sally Anne Thompson/EB Inc.

Any of three breeds derived from a medieval hunting dog that would set (lie down) when it found birds so that it and the birds could be covered with a net. Setters have long hair on the ears, chest, legs, and tail. They weigh 44–70 lbs (20–32 kg) and stand 23–27 in. (58–69 cm). The English setter, developed in the 15th century, may be all white, black and white-and-tan, or white with dark flecks. The Gordon setter originated in 17th-century Scotland; its soft, wavy coat is black with tan markings. The Irish setter, bred in Ireland in the 18th-cent, has a straight red coat.

This entry comes from Encyclopædia Britannica Concise.
For the full entry on setter, visit Britannica.com.

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