Meaning & use
Devonshire butter
Last updated
Meaning
noununcountableBritishregional
A thick, rich cream from southwest England that is served with scones and jam.
Grammar: Uncountable, so it has no plural and takes a singular verb: Devonshire butter is served here.
Patterns
- a pot of Devonshire butter
- serve something with Devonshire butter
The tearoom serves warm scones with Devonshire butter and strawberry jam.
She spread Devonshire butter on her scone before adding a spoonful of jam.
In Devon, Devonshire butter is often made on small family farms.
Common combinations
- scones with Devonshire butter
- The café is famous for its scones with Devonshire butter.
- a pot of Devonshire butter
- We bought a pot of Devonshire butter at the farm shop.
- Devonshire butter and jam
- Afternoon tea usually includes Devonshire butter and jam.
- serve with Devonshire butter
- The pancakes are served with Devonshire butter.
Synonyms and how they differ
- clotted cream
- This is the standard modern name for the same thick cream; Devonshire butter is an older regional term.
- cream
- Cream is a general word for the fatty part of milk, while Devonshire butter is a specific thick, cooked type.
Commonly confused: Devonshire butter or butter? Devonshire butter or Devon cream?
Devonshire butter vs butter
Butter is a solid yellow fat made from churning cream, but Devonshire butter is actually a thick cream, not a solid fat.
Devonshire butter vs Devon cream
Devon cream is a closely related name for the same product; Devonshire butter is the older regional term.
Practice
What is Devonshire butter?
Choose one answer.
Devonshire butter is a regional name for clotted cream, a thick cream eaten with scones and jam. It is not a solid cooking fat, a cheese, or a fruit spread.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Devonshire butter”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.