Grand Prix
(grɑ̃ priː)
[Fr., = great or chief prize.]
1. a. (In full Grand Prix de Paris.) An international horse race for three-year-olds established in 1863 and run annually in June at Longchamps, Paris. b. Any of certain motor-races held annually in different countries and governed by international rules.
| 1863 Times 3 June 9/4 The great event which had been looked forward to with such deep interest..both in England and France,..resulted in the victory of an English horse... The Grand Prix de Paris was looked forward to by the partisans of Lord Clifden, Saccharometer, and the Ranger. 1866 Field 10 Mar. 199/3 Some of our English friends, too, are travelled gentlemen, who go to the Grand Prix. 1899 [see Ascot]. 1902 Encycl. Brit. XXIX. 336/2 The Grand Prix de Paris, an international race for three-year-olds, run at Longchamps... The first Grand Prix fell to an English horse. 1908 Westm. Gaz. 2 Apr. 4/3 The drivers have now definitely been selected for the team of three Austin cars entered for competition in the Grand Prix race. 1922 Encycl. Brit. XXXI. 1003/2 In 1911 began a new series of races for the Grand Prix of the Automobile Club of France. 1923 W. J. Locke Moordius & Co. viii. 99 Already, after the Grand Prix, the ultra fashionables were leaving Paris. 1931 Times 5 June 4/6 To-day's practice for the Irish Grand Prix Race for motor-cars. 1958 [see grande épreuve]. 1959 Chambers's Encycl. IX. 559/1 In 1906 the French organized the first Grand Prix on a circuit near Le Mans, and by making it open to all, instead of to three cars only from each country, set the pattern for all future races. 1960 Times 28 Sept. 16/5 The cars to be run..will comprise three Grand Prix cars. 1966 Times 14 Feb. 6/3 Grand prix racing under the new 3-litre Formula 1 gets into its stride this year. |
2. gen. The highest prize awarded for products in some particular line at an exhibition.
Also in anglicized form, grand prize: see grand a. 12.
| 1880 Rep. Paris Univ. Exhib. 1878 II. 425. 1916 Oxf. Univ. Press Gen. Cat., The Twenty-three Grands Prix Awarded to the Oxford University Press At International Exhibitions 1889–1911. |