dev

D2E1V4
/dɛv/

noun

A monster, dragon, serpent, or giant.

“game dev”

Very commonScrabble 7

Meanings

dev1

noundev (countable and uncountable, plural devs)

plural devs

  1. abbreviationclippingcountableuncountableClipping of developer.

    “Our goal with this update is to more tightly tie hitboxes and hurtboxes to our character’s animations,” devs explained in the blog post.

    2022 August 9, Brad Norton, “MultiVersus patch 1.02 notes: Gizmo release, hitbox overhaul, Finn buffs, more”, in Dexerto
    1 more example

    Some fans, naturally, quizzed the Rockstar dev as to when they might expect a second trailer to drop. However, as is classic Rockstar, there are no answers on that front.

    2024 April 9, Connor Bennett, “Rockstar dev claps back at GTA 6 fans finding “mistakes” in trailer”, in Dexerto
  2. abbreviationclippingcountableuncountableClipping of development.

    game dev

  3. UnixabbreviationclippingcountableuncountablecomputingClipping of device.

dev2

noundev (plural devs)

plural devs

  1. Armenianhuman sciencesA monster, dragon, serpent, or giant.
  2. Armenianhuman sciencesAn immortal spirit who inhabits old ruins.

Dev3

proper nounDev (plural Devs)

plural Devs

  1. A male given name from Hindi.
  2. A patronymic surname from Hindi.

Dev4

proper noun
  1. IrishabbreviationhistoryAbbreviation of Éamon de Valera, former president of Ireland.

Dev5

proper nounthe Dev
  1. UKslangThe Devonshire Arms, an alternative pub in Camden, London.

    The Dev was a long-standing favourite, as was Hawley Arms and The World's End, but he found greater pleasure in seeking out the smaller, lesser known bars and pubs.

    2013, Jon Wilmot, The Reunion, page 135
    1 more example

    The vampire community offers a variety of activities, ranging from obscure events, such as carve your own tombstone, gothic belly dancing, and Kensal Green Cemetery walks to more regular pub and club nights at alternative venues, such as The Dev (the Devonshire Arms, Camden), the Intrepid Fox, Slimelight, and Torture Garden.

    2013, Maria Mellins, Vampire Culture, page 47

Origin

dev · noun

  1. Armenianդեւ
  2. Englishdev

From Armenian դեւ (dew). Doublet of daeva.

Full word history & related roots →

Dev · proper noun

  1. Proto-Indo-European*dyew-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*deywós
  3. Proto-Indo-Iranian*daywás
  4. Sanskritदेव (deva)
  5. Hindiदेव (dev)
  6. EnglishDev

Borrowed from Hindi देव (dev).

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with dev

All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

dev. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dev

MLA

“dev.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dev. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “dev,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dev.

Source: dev on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.