mastiff

[ mas-tif, mah-stif ]

noun

1. one of a breed of large, powerful, short-haired dogs having an apricot, fawn, or brindled coat.

mastiff

/ ˈmæstɪf /

noun

1. an old breed of large powerful short-haired dog, usually fawn or brindle with a dark mask

Word History and Origins

Origin of mastiff¹

1300–50; Middle English mastif, perhaps extracted from Anglo-French masti ( n ) s (taken as *mastifs ), plural of Old French mastin < Vulgar Latin ( canis ) *ma ( n ) suētīnus, derivative of Latin mansuētus tame, mild ( mansuetude )

Word History and Origins

Origin of mastiff¹

C14: from Old French, ultimately from Latin mansuētus tame; see mansuetude

Example Sentences

James Strauch, 42, said he eventually started offering landlords £1,000 deposit to let him rent with his four-year-old labrador mastiff cross, Bruno.

From BBC

That may be why “Frenchies” are the second-most-expensive dog breed to insure, behind the Cane Corso, a mastiff, according to Spot Pet Insurance, one of dozens of companies selling pet health insurance.

From New York Times

For example, he once jumped onto the roof of a car to avoid tangling with a large mastiff mix that had hopped over a waist-high fence.

From Los Angeles Times

For the most recent study, they focused on German short/wirehaired pointer, mastiff, Newfoundland, Rhodesian ridgeback and Siberian husky.

From Science Daily

Mohawk Hudson, for instance, has a lot of pit bulls, mastiffs and cane corsos.

From Seattle Times