setter

/set"euhr/, n.

1. a person or thing that sets.

2. one of any of several breeds of hunting dogs that originally had the habit of crouching when game was scented but that are now trained to stand stiffly and point the muzzle toward the scented game. Cf. English setter, Gordon setter, Irish setter.

3. Volleyball. a player who lofts the ball high for a teammate near the net to spike.

[1375-1425; late ME; see SET, -ER¹]

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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.

Irish setter

Sally Anne Thompson/EB Inc.

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▪ dog

 any of three breeds of sporting dogs (dog) used in pointing game birds. Setters are derived from a medieval hunting dog, the setting spaniel, that was trained to find birds and then to set (i.e., crouch or lie down) so that a net could be thrown over both the birds and the dog. When firearms were adopted, setters were trained to adopt a more upright stance. See English setter; Gordon setter; Irish setter.

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