[The name of an English county town.] Used attrib. or adj., and hence ellipt. as sb., to designate a valuable long-woolled variety of sheep and a long-horned variety of cattle originally bred in Leicestershire.
1834. Youatt, Cattle, vi. 208. Where a few of the long-horns do linger, the improved Leicesters are gone.
1839. Penny Cycl., XIII. 291/2. The improved Leicester has gained a footing, and will not soon lose it.
